Data processing terminals, icon badges, and methods of making and using the same

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to various configurations or methods of displaying push information such as a number or a substance of push information which is received by an app implemented to a data processing terminal such as a smartphone. More particularly, this disclosure relates to various methods of creating and using (1) an unread content which a sender selects a user as a labeled receiver but the user has not yet confirmed or read), and (2) a labeled icon badge which can represent a number of such unread labeled contents or a substance of such labeled contents. This disclosure also relates to various methods of creating and using a labeled icon badge which can distinguish a labeled content from an unlabeled content, where the labeled content is the one with more need for a user to confirm and where the unlabeled content is the one with less need for a user to confirm.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2018-0147249 filed Nov. 26, 2018, and Korean Patent Application No.10-2018-011662 filed Sep. 29, 2018 and which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF DISCLOSED TERMINALS, ICON BADGES, AND METHODS

This disclosure relates to displaying a number or a type of pushinformation that can be received by an operating system or various unitsof a data processing terminal such as, e.g., a smart-phone or a mobilephone. In particular, this disclosure relates to various methods ofcreating or using [1] an (unread) labeled content that is included inthe push information which a sender creates for at least one labeled ordesignated receiver, or [2] an (unread) labeled icon badge that candisplay the number or the type of the (unread) labeled content.

Therefore, a content sender may selectively send a receiver [1] alabeled content which a receiver is relatively strongly required to reador [2] an unlabeled content which a receiver is relatively less requiredto read. In addition, a content receiver may readily confirm whichcontent is highly required to read or confirm based on the type of thecontent, i.e., whether labeled or unlabeled.

A sender's terminal incorporates the content into a “data packet” ofvarious types and, using its transmitter, transmits the packet via theinternet or through a communication network. A receiver's terminalreceives the data packet, and extracts the content form the packet.Thus, the sender and receiver can exchange the content. In addition,data processing terminals such as conventional smart-phones or mobilephones as well as desktop computers, laptop computers, and wired orwireless phones can exchange the contents as above.

As used herein, a “data packet” may include a header, a content, and atail, but may include only one of the header and the tail. As usedherein, an “unlabeled data packet” is deemed to be identical to a priorart data packet that may have various formats and, therefore, theunlabeled data packet may also include a header, a content, and a tall,where the packet may not include one of the header and the tail. For thesimplicity of illustration, the content included in the unlabeled datapacket is to be referred to as the “unlabeled content.”

In contrary and as used herein, a “labeled data packet” may include aheader, a content, a tail, and a “label signal” and may include only oneof the header and tail. For simplicity of illustration, the contentincluded in the labeled data packet is to be referred to as the “labeledcontent.” When transmitting a labeled data packet, a sender of a certaingroup established by a certain app may label a certain member of thegroup as the labeled receiver. The “label signal” typically signifiesthe labeled (or designated) receiver.

A data packet may include the label signal as a portion which isseparate from its header, tail, and content. Alternatively, a datapacket may include the label signal in its header, in its tall or in itscontents. In contrary, a terminal may transmit the label signalseparately from the transmission of the data packet, where such a packetmay be deemed not as a labeled data packet but as an unlabeled datapacket and where the label signal may include information [1] about thelabeled receiver or [1] for locating the unlabeled data packet which wastransmitted with the label signal by the sender.

Based on the above definitions, this disclosure relates to various [1]labeled contents, [2] labeled icon badges, [3] configurations about suchlabeled contents or labeled icon badges, [4] methods of creating suchlabeled contents or labeled icon badges, or [5] methods of using suchlabeled contents or labeled icon badges, where each of the above labeledcontents and labeled icon badges may relate to push information or pushnotification which may be created by various apps and which may bedisplayed along with app icons of such apps, and where examples of suchapps may include, e.g., SNS (social network service) apps, groupwaresoftware apps, e-mail apps, messenger apps, scheduling apps, and thelike.

This disclosure also relates to a number or a type of “push information”which may be transmitted or received by an operating system or otherunits of data processing terminals such as, e.g., smart-phones andmobile phones. More particularly, this disclosure relates to [1] various“push information” such as, e.g., labeled data packets, with which asender may label (or designate) at least one receiver (i.e., a labeledreceiver), [2] various labeled contents which may be included in thepush information, [3] various labeled icon badges that may represent anumber or a type of the labeled contents, [4] various methods ofcreating such labeled contents or labeled icon badges, [5] variousmethods of using the labeled contents or labeled icon badges, [6]various labeled icon badges capable of displaying the labeled contentdifferently from the unlabeled content, where a receiver may be more orhighly (in a relative sense) required to read or confirm the labeledcontent than the unlabeled content, or [7] various methods of creatingor using such labeled icon badges.

In addition, this disclosure relates to incorporating such labeledcontents or labeled icon badges into [1] data processing terminals suchas mobile phones or smart-phones, [2] mobile pads or web pads, [3]personal digital assistants, [4] wired telephone, [5] inter-phone, [6]wireless communication devices, [7] wired or wireless data processingdevices, [8] computers, or [9] other communication devices.

This disclosure further relates to various configurations and methods ofapplying such labeled contents, labeled data packets or labeled iconbadges to [1] wired or wireless data processing unit, [2] wired orwireless control units or [3] wired or wireless communication units ofvarious “devices,” where examples of such devices may include [1]vehicles, buildings, robots, or drones, [2] various electric devices orelectronic devices, [3] an internet-of-things (i.e., IoT) network, or[4] various devices of the [1] to [3] of this paragraph which is coupledto the IoT network. Therefore, a user of various devices or units ofthis paragraph, or a user who receives a data packet from such units ordevices may readily confirm (or read) a number or a type of the labeledcontent that may be included in the data packet.

BACKGROUND

A user of a data processing terminal may drive a certain app, mayexchange contents with members of a certain group which is set up by theapp, and may finish running the app. When another member of the samegroup transmits a content to the user, the user may not immediatelyconfirm (or read) the content. The terminal or the app may notify theuser that he has received at least one “unread content” which the userhas not confirmed (or read). To this end, a conventional terminal hasemployed various “unread icon badges” that may represent a number ofsuch unread contents. FIG. 1A shows exemplary software applications (tobe abbreviated as “apps” hereinafter) that are installed to a dataprocessing terminal and exemplary unread icon badges of such appsdisplayed on a display unit with the app icons.

On its display unit(11), a terminal(10) may represent the app as an appicon(20) which is a user interface of the app. For the simplicity ofillustration, an “app” may refer to the “app icon(20)” that is also auser interface of the app itself or, alternatively, an “app icon” mayrefer to the app(20). For example, the terminal(10) in FIG. 1A includesa touch-screen type display unit(11) on its front surface, and displaysa total of six app icons(20) on the display unit(11).

It is noted that the terminal(10) of FIG. 1A is currently operating inits unlock state. Accordingly, the terminal(10) displays a home screenin which the terminal(10) also displays multiple app icons(20) (i.e.,user interfaces) of multiple apps that the user may load and run in theunlock state.

Accordingly, when the user applies a user input to the app icon(20), theterminal(10) can run the app.

In addition, when the terminal(10) requires a user authentication toadvance to the unlock state, the terminal(10) of FIG. 1A may be deemedto have switched to the unlock state after the user passed a userauthentication.

The terminal(10) may display an unread icon badge(21) of a certain appon the display unit(11) as well. For example, the terminal(10) of FIG.1A displays, on its display unit(11), three app icons(20) each of whichis attached with (or includes) an unread icon badge(21) and other threeapp icons(20) each of which is not attached with any unread iconbadge(21).

The terminal(10) includes at least one input unit capable of receivingvarious user inputs that are applied by the user. The input unit may be,e.g., [1] a hard-button type input unit that is one of hardware elementsof the terminal(10), [2] a touch-screen type input unit that may occupyat least a portion of the display unit(11), or [3] a soft-button typeinput unit that may be provided as a U/I (i.e., a user interface) on atouch-screen or a regular display screen. When placed with its frontsurface facing upward, the terminal(10) of FIG. 1A may include ahard-button type input unit(12A) on its left, and a pair of hard-buttontype input units(12B)(12C) on its right.

Although not displayed in FIG. 1A, the hard-button type inputunits(12A)(12B)(12C) may be replaced by at least one soft-button typeinput unit that may be displayed on the display unit(11) and that mayfunction as a user interface. When desirable, the terminal(10) may alsoinclude at least one soft-button type input unit and/or at least onehard-button type input unit.

FIG. 1B shows details of an exemplary app icon (or app) attached with anunread icon badge with a numeral “230.” For the simplicity ofillustration and as used in this disclosure, this is to be referred toas “the unread icon badge(21) reads 230” and it is to mean that the pushinformation that has been received by a receiver of a certain group frommultiple senders of the same group after the receiver ran and thenclosed the app(20) amounts to 230 contents. Thus, when the receiver runsthe app(20) thereafter, the app(20) is to display a total of 230 new,unread contents to the receiver.

FIG. 2A exemplifies multiple groups of an app that a terminal displayson its display unit when a user runs the app, and also exemplifies anunread icon badge capable of displaying a number of unread contents ineach of such groups. For example, a terminal(10) displays a groupwindow(15) of an app(20) on its display unit(11) when a receiver runsthe app(20). More particularly, on the group window(15), theterminal(10) may display multiple group icons(16) representing multiplegroups each of which includes multiple members who also run the sameapp(20). In addition, the terminal(10) may display the IDs or names ofthe members or member U/I(17) next to or adjacent to the group icon(16).For example, the group window(15) of FIG. 2A shows that the Group 1includes the members such as Kim2, Lee, Park, Kim23, Min, and Yoo, whileShim, Lee1, Park, Lee2, and Sylvia are members of the Group 2 of thesame app(20).

As also shown in FIG. 2A, the terminal(10) or app(20) may display thenumber(21) of unread contents of each group. For example, the Group 1includes 83 unread contents, the Group 2 includes 23 unread contents,the Group 3 includes 11 unread contents, the Group 4 includes 31 unreadcontents, the Group 5 includes 17 unread contents, the Group 6 includes23 unread contents, the Group 7 includes 3 unread contents, and theGroup 8 includes 13 unread contents.

FIG. 2B exemplifies multiple contents that have been exchanged by themembers of the Group 1 of FIG. 2A and that are displayed on the displayunit. That is, when a user of the terminal(10) of FIG. 1A provides auser input to the app(20) of FIG. 1B, the terminal(10) runs the app(20)and displays the screen of FIG. 2A on the display unit(11). When theuser provides another user input to a group icon(16) that corresponds tothe Group 1 that is one of multiple groups displayed on the groupwindow(15), the terminal(10) may then display a content window(19) ofFIG. 2B on the display unit(11), where the content window(19) typicallydisplays multiple contents exchanged by the members of the Group 1. Itis appreciated, for the simplicity of illustration, FIG. 2B does notinclude the reception times at which the receiver receives each of suchcontents. In addition, the boundaries around the contents(31N)(31L)(31B)are included only for the ease of illustration only, and are notactually displayed on the display unit(11).

In the content(31L) displayed on the content window(19), a member of theGroup 1, Park, asks a question to Shim who is the user of theterminal(10) and who is also a member of the Group 1.

Accordingly, the content(31L) is the one that relates relatively less tothe rest of the members of the Group 1. In other words, the content(31L)may be regarded as the “labeled content” which the sender, Part, labelsShim as the labeled receiver.

To the contrary, the content(31N) may be regarded as the content that asender, Kim23 who is a member of the Group 1, provides to all members ofthe Group 1, including the user, Shim. That is, the content(31N) is notthe one which Kim23 sends while specifically labeling the user, Shim.Rather, the content(31N) is the one which Kim23 sends to all members ofthe Group 1, including himself. Therefore, the need which the user,Shim, has to answer to the content(31N) may be regarded to be less thanthe need which Shim has to answer to the content(31L). That is, in theperspective of Shim, the content(31N) may not be regarded as the“labeled content” which the sender specifically labels Shim. Rather, thecontent(31N) may be regarded as the “unlabeled content” which the senderdoesn't label Shim as a labeled receiver.

In contrary, the content(31B) is the one which the sender, Lee who isthe member of the Group 1, sends to all members of the Group 1. Whencomparing the contents 31B and 31N, the content(31B) may be regarded torequire the response from the user, Shim, more than the content(31N).However, when comparing the contents 31B and 31L, the content(31B) maybe regarded to require the response from the user, Shim, less than thecontent(31L). In this context, the content(31B) may be regarded to bemore the “labeled content” than the “unlabeled content.” When desirable,such a content(31B) may be referred to as the “partly labeled content”hereinafter.

As explained above, the contents represented by the prior art unreadicon badge(21) may include different contents, and examples of suchcontents may include [1] a content which a sender sends to all membersincluding the user, [2] the content of the above [1] which other memberssend to each other and, therefore, which relates less or none to theuser, or [3] the content of the above [1] which the sender speciallylabels the user as the labeled receiver.

When a user desires to find out whether the unread contents may includea labeled content which the sender specifically labels the user as thelabeled receiver, the user should check each and every unread contentand see whether the sender sent the content to the user as the labeledcontent. Because the conventional unread icon badge simply represents atotal number of the unread contents, the user cannot tell whether thereis any content which labels the user as the labeled receiver, until theuser opens a certain group icon.

However, when the icon badge accompanies a big numeral (i.e., there aretoo many unread contents), it becomes difficult for the user to checkwhether the unread contents may include any labeled content. Inaddition, due to such a huge number, it may take an enormous amount oftime of the user to check or read each and every unread content.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to various configurations and methods ofovercoming the above disadvantageous features of the prior art unreadicon badges. That is, various data processing terminals of thisdisclosure overcome the above shortcomings of the prior art unread iconbadges by employing various labeled icon badges where, unlike theconventional unread icon badges, the (unread) labeled icon badges mayrepresent a number or a type of the (unread) labeled contents and wherethe labeled contents are the ones that a sender may label a certainreceiver as the specifically labeled or designated receiver. Moreparticularly, various terminals of this disclosure may create an(unread) labeled icon badge (to be abbreviated as a “labeled icon badge”hereinafter unless otherwise specified) that visually represents anumber of the (unread) labeled contents (to be abbreviated to as the“labeled contents” unless otherwise specified) that was received in acertain app, a type of such (unread) labeled contents, or the like.Thus, this configuration and method may provide various benefits to boththe receiver and the sender.

In addition, this disclosure relates to various configurations ormethods of creating and using such “labeled contents” as well as“labeled icon badges,” while various software elements (to beabbreviated as “S/W elements hereinafter) of a terminal such as, e.g.,an operating system (to be abbreviated as an “O/S” hereinafter),computer program, or software applications (to be referred to as an“app” hereinafter) may run various operations such as, e.g., a wiredcalling operation, a wireless calling operation, a groupware S/Woperation, a SNS (i.e., social network service) operation, a messengeroperation, an e-mail operation, other wired or wireless communicationoperations, or the like.

More particularly, this disclosure relates to various configurations andmethods of effectively using a number or a type of various “pushinformation” that may be received by the S/W elements or other units ofa data processing terminal such as a smart-phone or a mobile phone. Inaddition, this disclosure relates to various methods of using “pushnotification” such as, e.g., [1] a “labeled icon badge” which mayrepresent a number or a type of the “labeled contents” (i.e., thecontents which a sender labels at least one receiver as the labeledreceiver and sends such contents, while setting up other receivers andsending the same contents to such receivers) which is included in thepush information, [2] a “labeled icon badge” which may visuallydistinguish the “labeled contents” of the push information from the“unread contents” or from the “unlabeled content” (i.e., the contentswhich a sender sets up multiple receivers and sends the contents to suchreceivers, without labeling any of such receivers as the labeledreceiver), [3] a “labeled icon badge” capable of distinguishing the“labeled content” which may carry a great need for the receiver to reador confirm from the “unlabeled content” which has a less need for thereceiver to read or confirm, [4] various methods of creating and usingthe “labeled content,” [5] various push notification capable ofdistinguishing the “labeled content” from the “unlabeled content,” or[6] various push notification utilizing the “labeled icon badge.”

It is noted that such a need described in the above paragraph and therest of this disclosure can be established by various methods. Forexample, a content sender may establish which content may carry more“need” to be reviewed by a receiver. That is, the content sender mayestablish such a “need” based on his determination. In the alternative,a sender's terminal may determine which content may carry more “need” tobe reviewed by a receiver. For example, before transmitting the content,the sender's terminal may analyze the content to be transmitted or othercontents which have been previously exchanged between the sender and acertain receiver. Based upon the analysis, the sender's terminal mayestablish the “need.” Or the receiver's terminal may determine the“need” for the receiver to confirm or read the content. For example,upon receiving the content, the receiver's terminal may analyze thereceived content or other contents which have been previously exchangedbetween the receiver and a certain sender. Based on such analysis, thereceiver's terminal may then establish the “need.” Or a server maydetermine the “need” for the receiver to read or confirm the content.For example, the server may analyze the content received from the senderor may analyze other contents which have been previously exchanged bythe sender and a certain receiver, and determine the “need” based onsuch analysis.

In other words, even when the receiver receives a labeled content whichhas been labeled by the sender, by the sender's terminal or by thereceiver's terminal, the receiver may review the labeled content andthen may or may not respond to the sender. In addition, even when thereceiver confirms that there are unread labeled contents in a certainapp or in a certain group of the app, the receiver [1] may open thegroup window and read the labeled content or [2] may not even open thegroup window and may not read the labeled content at all. For example,when the group of a certain app having numerous labeled contents happensto include many members who belong to a certain social group but whenthe user do not participate in the group, the receiver may readily findout that the group has received lots of labeled contents but may chooseto not read such contents. That is, the receiver's terminal may notifythe receiver of the arrival of the labeled content, but it is still thereceiver who decides to read it or not.

Various (unread) labeled contents, labeled data packets including the(unread) labeled contents, or labeled icon badges representing a numberof such (unread) labeled contents may be incorporated to various dataprocessing terminals such as mobile phones or smart-phones and may offerthe benefit of allowing a content sender and a content receiver to moreefficiently communicate with each other. Accordingly, such labeledcontents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges may be efficientlyapplied to various messenger apps, e-mail apps, SNS apps, or groupwaresoftware apps, each incorporated to the terminal. In addition, suchlabeled contents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges may bereadily applied to scheduling apps, advertisement (or simply “ad”)displaying apps, alarm apps or event notifying apps, each incorporatedinto the terminal.

Various labeled contents and labeled icon badges of this disclosure mayalso be applied in order to control various hardware elements orsoftware elements of the data processing terminals such as mobilephones, smart-phones, and so on. Such labeled contents, labeled datapackets or labeled icon badges may also be applied to communicate withor to control various electric devices or their units which may beincluded in or incorporated into buildings, vehicles, robots, drones orinternet-of-things.

1. Objectives

The first objective of this disclosure relates to various configurationsor methods of creating and using “(unread) labeled contents” usingvarious “label signals.” To this end, the terminal of this disclosuremay drive its conventional hardware elements or software elements tocreate or transmit such label signals in the form of a conventional datapacket. For example, the terminal may [1] include the label signal in aheader or a tall of the data packet, [2] include the label signal in acontent of the data packet, or [3] change the content according to thelabel signal and then include the changed content in the data packet.

Alternatively, the terminal may drive its conventional hardware elementsor software elements to create and transmit a data packet with a newformat which is different from that of the conventional data packet. Forexample, the terminal may define an additional portion in addition tothe aforementioned header, content, and tail, and then include the labelsignal in the additional portion.

In the alternative, the terminal may create two data packets, includethe content in the first data packet, include the label signal in thesecond data packet, and then transmit the first and second data packetsat the same time or sequentially. Alternatively, the terminal maytransmit the label signal and the data packet (which does not includethe label signal) to a server separately. The server may save the labelsignal, and then the receiver's terminal may then retrieve the labelsignal from the server or may receive the label signal from the server.It is noted that such a server of this disclosure may refer to a centralserver or a local server, and both servers will be collectively referredto as a “server.”

The second objective of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of creating and using various “labeled datapackets” which may include the “label signals.” To this end, theterminal of this disclosure [1] may employ various prior art hardwareelements or software elements to create and to transmit (or receive) the“labeled data packet” which may include the label signal, or [2] mayemploy various prior art hardware elements or software elements tocreate and to transmit (or receive) the data packet of theaforementioned new format, where the data packet may include the labelsignal but the new format may be different from the format of the priorart data packet. Or the receiver's terminal of this disclosure mayreceive the prior art data packet which does not include the labelsignal, and the terminal may confirm where the content is a labeledcontent or an unlabeled content by assessing [1] the label signal storedin a server or [2] other data. Alternatively, the receiver's terminalmay receive the data packet which does not include the label signal, andthen may confirm where the content is labeled or unlabeled based oncharacteristics of the contents such as, e.g., a font of the content,its size, its shape, its color, its transparency, its background, itsbackground, and the like.

The third objective of this disclosure relates to various configurationsor methods of creating and utilizing various “(unread) labeled iconbadges” which represents a number or a type of the “(unread) labeledcontents” which are included in the unread contents. To this end, theterminals of this disclosure may display an app icon of a certain app,while [1] also displaying the number or the type of the labeled contentswhich are included in the unread contents using the labeled icon badges,[2] also displaying the presence or absence of such labeled contents inthe unread contents using the labeled icon badges, or [3] alsodisplaying an absence of any labeled contents, if the unread contents donot include any labeled contents, using the labeled icon badges invarious configurations.

The terminal of the [1] or [2] of the above paragraph may display thenumber of the labeled contents included in the unread contents or thepresence or absence of the labeled contents in the unread contents bymanipulating [1] various visual characteristics of the labeled iconbadges, where examples of such characteristics may include characters,numerals, images, symbols or figures, [2] a color, a font or abackground of the labeled icon badge, [3] a shape or size of the labeledicon badge, or [4] a position or an orientation of the labeled iconbadge. The terminal of the [3] of the above paragraph [1] may displaythe labeled icon badge as “0” or may incorporate “0” into the labeledicon badge, [2] may display the labeled icon badge for the unreadcontents which may include no labeled content therein (to be abbreviatedas the “labeled icon badge₍₀₎” hereinafter) in the same color, font orbackground as that of another labeled icon badge for the unread contentswhich include at least one labeled content therein (to be abbreviated asthe “labeled icon badge_((N))” hereinafter) but display the labeled iconbadge₍₀₎ in the shape, size, position or orientation which may bedifferent from that of the labeled icon badge_((N)), [3] may display thelabeled icon badge₍₀₎ in the identical shape, size, position ororientation as that of the labeled icon badge_((N)) but may display thelabeled icon badge₍₀₎ in the color, font or background which may bedifferent from that of the labeled icon badge_((N)), or [4] may displaythe unread icon badge, without displaying any labeled icon badge.

The fourth objective of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of displaying or using the “labeled iconbadge” which may represent a number or a type of the “(unread) labeledcontents” included in the unread contents, while displayingsimultaneously (or together) [1] an “unlabeled icon badge” whichrepresents a number or a type of the “(unread) unlabeled contents”included in the unread contents or [2] the prior art “unread icon badge”for representing a total number of the unread contents. For example, theterminal of this disclosure may display an app icon of a certain app onits display unit and may also display [1] the labeled icon badge forrepresenting a number or a type of the labeled contents included in theunread contents, [2] the unread icon badge and labeled icon badge indifferent positions on a display unit according to various arrangements,[3] the unlabeled icon badge and labeled icon badge in differentlocations on a display unit according to various arrangements, [4] thelabeled icon badge in such a configuration that the labeled icon badgemay readily be distinguished from the unread icon badge or from theunlabeled icon badge, or [5] the labeled icon badge and the unread iconbadge (or the unlabeled icon badge) in different configurations orarrangements.

When the terminal displays the labeled icon badge together with (orsimultaneously) displaying the unread icon badge (or the unlabeled iconbadge) on the display unit, the terminal may help a user readilydistinguish such badges from each other by displaying such badges [1]using different images or figures, [2] in different fonts, thicknesses,colors, transparencies or backgrounds, [3] in different shapes or sizes,or [4] in different positions or orientations.

The terminal may display the labeled icon badge and the unread (orunlabeled) icon badge on the display unit in various arrangements. Forexample, the terminal may display such badges [1] apart from each otherby a certain distance on the display unit, e.g., one over the other orside by side, [2] symmetrically with each other with respect to acertain point (or line) on the display unit, [3] asymmetrically, [4]while allowing such badges to overlap at least a portion of each other,[5] while allowing the badges to contact at least a portion of eachother, [6] apart from each other by a certain distance and in aconcentric circular (or polygonal) arrangement, [7] apart from eachother by a certain distance and inside a certain figure or image, [8] ina concentric circular (or polygonal) arrangement and also overlapping(or contacting) at least a portion of each other, or [9] inside acertain figure or image and also contacting (or overlapping) at least aportion of each other.

The fifth objective of this disclosure relates to various configurationsor methods of allowing a user to provide a mechanical user input to theterminal and to select a “labeled receiver” based upon the user input,and to various configurations or methods of creating and using the“label signal” and the “labeled content” based upon such selection bythe user. For example, the user may create the label signal [1] byproviding the user input of manipulating a hard keyboard or softkeyboard, [2] by providing the user input of touching (or contacting) orotherwise manipulating the touch screen, or [3] by providing the userinput of manipulating another hard-button type or soft-button type inputunit.

The sixth objective of this disclosure relates to various configurationsor methods of allowing a user to provide a different user input to theterminal and to select the “labeled receiver” based on the user input,and to various configurations or methods of creating and using the“label signal” as well as the “labeled content.” To this end, the usermay create the label signal [1] by providing the user input which mayinvolve various movements or gestures of the user, or [2] by providingat least one electrical, magnetic, acoustic or electromagnetic userinput. In particular, the terminal of the [1] of this paragraph maycreate a label signal [3] by electrically, magnetically or acousticallysensing the movements or gestures of the user, or [4] byelectromagnetically acquiring and analyzing a static image or a dynamicimage of such movements or gestures.

The seventh objective of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of analyzing the content transmitted by thesender or received by the receiver using various prior art informationanalysis algorithms and to various configurations or methods of creatingthe label signal upon finding a “label request information” in thecontent, thereby creating the “labeled content” based on the labelsignal. To this end, the terminal may employ various prior artinformation analysis algorithms which are commonly utilized in the fieldof artificial intelligence (i.e., to be abbreviated as an “AI”hereinafter), machine learning, deep learning, natural languageprocessing or big data, in order to search for a name of a certainmember of a certain group, a title or a nickname of the member, or otherwords, texts or symbols which may mean or represent the member from thecontent. Once identifying the label request information, the terminalmay then select a labeled receiver based on such information, and mayconvert the text into the labeled content.

The terminal may also search for certain images or sounds which may beincluded in the content transmitted by the sender or received by thereceiver using the conventional information analysis algorithms. Thus,upon identifying that the image corresponds to a picture or a video clipof a certain member, or to the name, title or nickname of the member,the terminal may then regard this as the label request information.Similarly, the terminal may also analyze the sound which is included inthe sender's or receiver's content using the prior art informationanalysis algorithms. Upon identifying a certain sound which maycorrespond to the sound of a certain member or to a name, title ornickname of the member, the terminal may regard this as the labelrequest information. When the terminal identifies such a label requestinformation, the terminal may then select the labeled receiver, and mayalso convert such a content into the labeled content.

The eighth objective of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of displaying the content enough to allow theuser to readily distinguish the labeled content from the unreadcontents. For example, when displaying the unread contents on thedisplay unit, the terminal [1] may selectively simplify or minimize theunlabeled contents, or [2] may not display any unlabeled contents. Atthe same time, the terminal may display the labeled contents on thedisplay unit with or without highlights (i.e. emphasis).

Alternatively, the terminal may display the unread contents and readcontents, while [1] selectively simplifying, [2] selectively minimizingor [3] not displaying the (unread or read) unlabeled contents.Therefore, the terminal may display the (unread or read) labeledcontents on the display unit with or without any highlight.Alternatively, the terminal may only display the (unread or read)labeled contents.

The ninth objective of this disclosure relates to various configurationsor methods of selectively displaying, out of unread contents, suchlabeled content which may relate to the user. For example, the terminalmay [1] selectively display the labeled content transmitted to thereceiver on the display unit or store the labeled content, or [2]separately display the content transmitted by the user or may store sucha labeled content.

More particularly, as far as the labeled content that is transmitted tothe user is concerned, the terminal [1] may only display the unreadlabeled content or may store such a content, [2] may only display theread labeled content or may store such a content, [3] may display bothof the read and unread labeled contents or may store such contents, [4]may display the (unread or read) labeled content which is transmitted byat least one certain member to the user or may store such a content or[5] may display the read labeled content which is transmitted to theuser by at least one certain member as well as the content which theuser transmits to the member as a reply to that read labeled content, ormay store such contents.

In addition, as far as the labeled content which is transmitted by theuser is concerned, the terminal [1] may display the (unread or read)labeled content transmitted to a certain labeled receiver or store sucha content, [2] may display the (unread or read) labeled contentstransmitted to all labeled receivers or store such contents, [3] maydisplay the (unread or read) contents which may be the replies to thecontents sent by the user or store such contents, or [4] may displaylabeled content that is transmitted by the user to at least one certainmember and the content which is transmitted by the certain member as areply to the user's content or store such contents.

The tenth objective of this disclosure relates to various configurationsor methods of selectively displaying various contents transmitted to orreceived by a user, sender or receiver. For example, the terminal [1]may display the unread labeled content, read labeled content or allabeled contents which are transmitted to the user by a certain memberon the display unit or may store the contents in the server or terminal,[2] may display the unread unlabeled content, read unlabeled content orall unlabeled contents which are transmitted by a certain member of acertain group to all members of the group on the display unit or maystore such contents in the terminal or server, [3] may display unread orread (labeled or unlabeled) contents which are transmitted by the userto a certain member or all members of a certain group on the displayunit or may store such contents in the terminal or the server, or [4]may display unread or read (unlabeled or labeled) contents which aretransmitted by a member of a group to another member or all members ofthe group on the display unit or may store such contents in the serveror terminal, where the members of this [4] is not the user.

The eleventh objective of this disclosure relates to variousclassifications of the contents. To this end, such contents may beclassified as either the unlabeled content or the labeled content.Alternatively, the contents transmitted by the user or a sender may beclassified as the unlabeled content, the labeled content, and at leastone partly labeled content. Thus, various icon badges may also beclassified as an unlabeled icon badge, a labeled icon badge, and anoptional partly labeled icon badge.

The twelfth objective of this disclosure relates to displaying thenumber, the type, or the presence or absence of the labeled contents byemploying various labeled icon badges. For example, the terminal maydisplay the app icon for a certain app on its display unit, while alsodisplaying an unread icon badge for representing the number of unreadcontents as well as a labeled icon badge for representing the number ofthe unread labeled contents. Alternatively, the terminal may create thelabeled icon badge based on various label signals, thereby informing thereceiver whether the labeled content included in the unread contents maybe a text, an image or a sound, how big the size of the labeled contentis, or when the labeled content was transmitted or received.

The thirteenth objective of this disclosure relates to displaying thelabeled content which the user transmits only to a receiver who may belabeled as a “labeled receiver” by the user. For example, unlike thefirst to twelfth objectives as described above, once a user labels acertain receiver as the labeled receiver, the terminal [1] may transmitthe labeled content of the user only to the labeled receiver but not toother members, or [2] may transmit the content of the user to allmembers, manipulate a terminal of the labeled receiver to display thecontent, but manipulate the terminals of other receivers to not displaythe contents.

To this end, the terminal may include a certain label signal in thelabeled data packet for the above [1] of the preceding paragraph and, asa result, the content included in the labeled data packet is then calledthe labeled content. Alternatively, the server may transmit the labeleddata packet which includes the labeled content only to the labeledreceiver. Alternatively, the terminal of the labeled receiver mayreceive the labeled content and then display such a content on itsdisplay unit, but other members' terminals may not receive the labeledcontent at all. Alternatively, the terminal of the labeled receiver mayreceive the labeled content and then display such a content on itsdisplay unit, but other members' terminals may receive the labeledcontent but may not display the content on their display units. In thealternative, the terminal of the labeled receiver may display thelabeled content after the app receives such a content, however, othermembers' terminals may receive the labeled content but may not displaythe content on their display units.

The fourteenth objective of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of implementing the label signal, the labeleddata packet or the labeled icon badge to various devices. For example,the label signals, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges may beused in [1] various data processing devices such as, e.g., smart-phones,mobile phones, web pads, personal data assistants, or the like, [2]various computers, or [3] various communication devices such as wired orwireless phones, inter-phones or wireless communication devices, or thelike. In addition, the label signals, the labeled data packets or thelabeled icon badges may also be implemented into [1] various wireless orwired data processing units, communication units or control units thatare included in buildings, vehicles, robots or drones, [2] variouscontrol units or data processing units that are included in theinternet-of-things, or [3] electrical or electronic devices which arecoupled to the internet-of-things.

The fifteenth objective of this disclosure relates to providing a dataprocessing terminal which may perform a function of allowing a user toconfirm the number of unread labeled contents by performing less stepsor while receiving less user inputs, without having to open a contentwindow. To this end, various terminals of this disclosure may provide animproved user interface (U/I) which may allow a user to more easilyconfirm whether the unread contents transmitted by the members of acertain app has labeled the user and then transmitted such labeledcontents to the user.

Thus, a user may readily confirm whether the unread contents (which havebeen received from the members of multiple group windows of a certainapp or from the members of a certain group window) may contain anylabeled contents and, if so, how many labeled contents the user hasreceived, without having to perform the step of pressing a certain appicon and opening a group window of the app, or without having to performthe step of selecting a certain group from the group window and openinga content window of the group.

Therefore, the data processing terminals or their display units of thisdisclosure which may not be fabricated beyond a certain size may displayvarious icon badges around or inside an app icon, thereby readilyrepresenting the number of unread contents and the number of unreadlabeled contents or unread unlabeled contents.

The sixteenth objective of this disclosure relates to providing a userwith an improved app icon (or U/I) by combining one app icon (or U/I)having a new functionality with a prior art app icon (U/I) with aconventional functionality. Thus, when various terminals of thisdisclosure may display an app icon on a display unit, the terminals maydisplay the unread icon badge which has the conventional functionalitywith the (unread) labeled icon badge with the new functionality. As aresult, such terminals of this disclosure may provide various solutionsto the problems or limitations inherent in the unread icon badgescommonly used in the prior art data processing devices.

2. Benefits

According to the above first objective, the terminals of this disclosuremay incorporate configurational or operation features of the prior artmobile phones or smart-phones. Accordingly, a manufacturer may minimizethe cost of making such terminals. The user may also readily operatesuch terminals of this disclosure which adopt the prior artconfigurational or operation features.

According to the above second objective, various terminals of thisdisclosure may transmit or receive the label signal by including such alabel signal in various prior art data packets. Therefore, suchterminals may incorporate configurational or operation features of theprior art mobile phones or smart-phones. As a result, a manufacturer mayminimize the cost of making such terminals, and the user may alsoreadily operate such terminals of this disclosure which adopt the priorart configurational or operation features.

According to the above third objective, a user of a terminal may readilyfind out whether the unread contents may include any labeled contents,only by looking at a number (i.e., a numeral or a labeled icon badge)which may be attached to an app icon of a certain app displayed on thedisplay unit. Upon confirming that number or numeral, the user may alsoeasily find out how may labeled contents are included in the unreadcontents from the number or numeral as well. Similarly, a sender whotransmits a content to the labeled receiver may ensure the labeledreceiver to pay additional attention to the content and may induce thereceiver to read or confirm the content.

According to the above fourth objective, a user of a terminal of thisdisclosure may easily and visually confirm the presence or absence ofthe unread labeled contents in the unread contents. The user may alsoeasily and readily find out the presence or the absence of the labeledcontent included in the unread contents or the number of the labeledcontents in the unread contents.

According to the above fifth objective, a user of a terminal of thisdisclosure may readily create the label signal by manipulating the inputunits of the terminal in a way which may be identical or similar to theway of manipulating the input units of the prior art mobile phones orsmart-phones. Accordingly, a manufacturer may minimize the cost ofmaking such terminals.

According to the above sixth objective, various terminals of thisdisclosure may use various prior art hardware elements in receiving themechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic or acoustic userinputs and, accordingly, may reduce the cost of manufacturing suchterminals. In addition, the user may create the label signal by easilymanipulating the terminal and by providing the user input in variousmethods.

According to the above seventh objective, the terminal of thisdisclosure may automatically find out whether the unread contentsinclude any labeled content therein, even when the content sender doesnot create any label signal. That is, a user of the terminal may createthe label signal without necessarily providing an additional(mechanical) user input in order to create a label signal. Or a contentsender may create the label signal by capturing an image which isrelated to himself, the labeled receiver, or a certain member using acamera and using that image as the user input, or by recording his voiceusing a microphone and using the voice as the user input. The terminalof the labeled receiver may then display the content as the labeledcontent. The receiver's terminal, not the sender's terminal, may alsocreate the label signal, when the sender's signal does not create thelabel signal. For example, when the receiver's signal receives such animage or voice, the terminal may recognize that image or voice and thenlabel the content transmitted by the sender as the labeled content. Inaddition, various methods of creating the label signal of this paragraphmay be combined with at least one of the above fifth and sixthobjective.

According to the above eighth objective, the user of the terminal ofthis disclosure may confirm the labeled contents which are included inthe unread contents, while getting rid of or minimizing the confusioncaused by the unlabeled contents. The user of the terminal may alsoconfirm the labeled contents included in the read or unread contents,while getting rid of or minimizing the visual confusion caused by theunlabeled contents.

According to the above ninth objective, the user of such terminals ofthis disclosure may [1] easily distinguish the contents which do notlabel the user as the labeled receiver from the contents which do labelthe user as the labeled receiver, [2] easily distinguish the labeledcontents which the user transmits to a certain labeled receiver from thelabeled contents which a certain member or all members send to the user,[3] easily confirm whether a certain member replied to the user inresponse to the labeled content which the user had sent to the member,[4] easily confirm whether the user replied to a certain member inresponse to the labeled content which the member had sent to the user,or [5] readily understand mutual opinions or relationship by readilyconfirming the contents which have been exchanged between the user andthe member.

According to the above tenth objective, the user of the terminal of thisdisclosure may [1] easily confirm or distinguish those unlabeled orlabeled contents which have been exchanged with a certain member or [2]easily understand mutual opinions or relationship by readily confirmingthe contents which have been exchanged between at least two members.

According to the above eleventh objective, the user of the terminal ofthis disclosure may easily confirm or distinguish those unlabeled orlabeled contents which have been transmitted by a certain member orwhich have been sent to the member. Therefore, the user may readilyconfirm the contents which have been exchanged between the user and themember or between other members (excluding the user), thereby readilyunderstanding the opinions or relationship between the user and themember or between other members.

According to the above twelfth objective, the user of the terminal ofthis disclosure may easily confirm the context of the labeled contentwhich is included in the unread contents simply by using the labeledicon badge. For example, the user may readily confirm whether thelabeled content is a text, a file, an image or a sound.

According to the above thirteenth objective, the user of the terminal ofthis disclosure may ensure that other members may not know of thecontent which the user transmits to the labeled receiver. As a result,the user may communicate only with the labeled receiver, even in a groupwindow.

According to the above fourteenth objective, the user of the terminal ofthis disclosure may also control such “devices” or “units” which havebeen described hereinabove and hereinafter by exchanging the contentswith such devices through the terminal. More particularly, the user may[1] connect his terminal to such devices or units wirelessly or throughwire and manipulate such devices, or [2] remotely manipulate suchdevices by using his terminal as a remote controller for such devices.

According to the above fifteenth objective, various terminals of thisdisclosure may allow a user to perform a certain function more simply orby providing a smaller number of user inputs. For example, when a userof a prior art data processing device wants to confirm whether unreadcontents include any unread labeled contents, he or she has to provideat least two user inputs. First, the user has to provide a first userinput of switching a device from its off state to its lock (or unlock)state, and has to provide a second user input to a certain app which isattached with an unread icon badge which represents a number of unreadcontents, thereby opening a group window of the app. In the group windowwhich displays multiple groups of the app, the user then has to providea third user input to a certain group which is attached with the unreadicon badge which represents the number of unread contents in the group,thereby opening a content window of that group. Thereafter, the user mayconfirm whether that group may include labeled contents out of theunread contents by reading the unread contents included in the contentwindow. In other words, the user of such a device has to endure theinconvenience of not being able to readily confirm whether the unreadcontents may include any labeled content until he or she may open thecontent window. Even when the user may confirm that such unread contentsinclude the unread labeled contents, however, he has to count alllabeled contents when he wants to find out how many unread labeledcontents he has received.

However, a user of various data processing terminals of this disclosuremay easily confirm the number of unread labeled contents which areincluded in the unread contents, by providing only the first user inputor the first and second user inputs of the above paragraph. As a result,the app icons (i.e., a U/I) which is attached with the unread labeledicon badge can readily solve the inconveniences or problems inherent inthe prior art app icons (i.e., a prior art U/I) used in the conventionaldata processing devices. For example, when the terminal may display theapp icons and related labeled icon badges on a lock screen in its lockstate, a user may readily find out how many labeled contents he or shehas received in a certain app by simply providing the first user inputof the above paragraph. In addition, when such a terminal displays ahome screen in an unlock state after receiving the first user input, theuser may also readily find out the number of unread labeled contentsreceived by the app. In addition, when the user opens a group window byproviding the second user input of the above paragraph (after providingthe above first user input and selecting a certain app from multipleapps displayed on the screen), the user may even easily confirm thenumbers of such unread labeled contents in various groups of the app.Accordingly, compared with the user of the prior art data processingdevice which employs the U/I such as an app icon, the user of theterminal of this disclosure which employs an improved U/I which isimproved in the sense of being attached with the unread labeled iconbadge can accomplish the same results or improved results, more simply,by performing less steps, or by providing a less number of user inputs.

According to the above sixteenth objective, a user of various terminalsof this disclosure may more simply and more easily confirm the existenceof or the number of the labeled contents included in the unreadcontents. Or the user of such terminals of this disclosure may run anoperation of confirming the number of the labeled contents, which theuser of the conventional data processing devices may not be able to runat all. Alternatively, compared with a user of the conventional dataprocessing devices, the user of such terminals of this disclosure mayperform an improved function of confirming the number of the unreadlabeled contents while performing a less number of steps of whileproviding a less number of user inputs.

3. Definitions

It is appreciated that various words or phrases of this disclosure maymean the followings.

As used herein, a “data processing terminal” or simply a “terminal”collectively refers to electrical or electronic devices which can,either wirelessly or through wire, transmit or receive various data(e.g., various contents or various data packets which include suchcontents), which can process the data, or which can store such data. Theterminal may be constructed as a mobile type or a portable type. Or theterminal may also be constructed as an immobile type.

The “terminal” may correspond to a “mobile (or portable) data processingterminal” and examples of such terminals may include, e.g., [1]smart-phones, [2] mobile phones, [3] mobile pads, [4] web pads, [5]personal digital assistants, or the like. The terminal may correspondto, e.g., wired or wireless [1] communication devices or phones, [2]inter-phones, [3] data processing devices, [4] computers or [5] othercommunication devices.

The “terminal” may also correspond to various electrical devices orelectronic devices, where examples of such “terminals” may include [1]wired or wireless control units or data processing units which may beincluded in or incorporated into private, commercial or militarytransportation vehicles which may move with two, three, four or morewheels, [2] wired or wireless control units or data processing unitswhich may be included in or incorporated into private, commercial ormilitary aerial transportation vehicles such as planes or helicopters,[3] wired or wireless control units or data processing units which maybe included in or incorporated into private, commercial or militarysurface transportation vehicles such as yachts, ships or submarines, or[4] wired or wireless control units or data processing units which maybe included in or incorporated into private, commercial or militaryarchitectures such as houses or buildings. Various vehicles of the [1]to [3] of this paragraph are to be collectively referred to as the“vehicles” hereinafter.

The “terminal” may also correspond to other electrical devices orelectronic devices, where examples of such “terminals” may include [1]wired or wireless control units, data processing units or communicationunits that may be included in or incorporated into various robots ordrones, [2] wired or wireless control units, data processing units orcommunication units that may be included in or incorporated into variousinternet-of-things, or [3] wired or wireless control units, dataprocessing units or communication units included in or incorporated intovarious electrical or electronic devices which may be coupled to orincluded in the internet-of-things. Such wired or wireless controlunits, such wired or wireless data processing units, or such wired orwireless communication units of this paragraph and this disclosure areto be collectively referred to as the “units” hereinafter.

As used herein, the phrase “a terminal runs a certain operation” maygenerally mean that [1] a hardware element or a software elementimplemented to the terminal runs the operation, [2] an O/S which is oneof the software elements of the terminal runs the operation, or [3] asoftware application (to be abbreviated as an “app” hereinafter) whichis implemented into the terminal and which is also one of the softwareelements of the terminal runs the operation. Accordingly, the phrase “aterminal or an app runs a certain operation” may mean that a hardwareelement, an O/S, an app or another software element runs the operation.A terminal manufacturer may implement such an app onto the terminalduring or after manufacturing the terminal. Instead, a distributor ofthe terminal may implement the app to the terminal during thedistribution of the terminal. Alternatively, a user of the terminal mayimplement the app to the terminal after purchase.

The terminal of this disclosure may transmit or receive various“contents” through the internet or a certain network in the form ofvarious “data packets.” A conventional data packet may have a variety offormats, depending on the type of contents included therein or upon acertain internet protocol. In general, the “data packet” of thisdisclosure is to include a “header,” at least one “content,” and a“tail,” where such a packet may not include one of the header or tail.The header may generally include data which are related to overallinformation, service, and other data related to the transmission orreception of various contents, whereas the tail may include data whichare related to the transmission or reception of such contents, thecontent type, the content feature, or processing of the content.

As used herein, a “content” refers to a text such as, e.g., a sentenceor a document, each including characters, numerals or symbols. A“content” may also include a point, a line, a figure or a geometricobject, and may also include an image or a sound. Alternatively, such a“content” may include an attached file. In addition, the “content” mayinclude such a figure, object, image or sound, without necessarilyincluding such text.

As used herein, an “unlabeled data packet” refers to a data packet whichincludes a content which is in turn transmitted while a sender does notlabel a certain receiver. As used herein, an “unlabeled data packet” isdeemed to by synonymous with the prior art data packet. Accordingly, the“unlabeled data packet” may similarly include a header, at least onecontent, and a tall, where one of the header or tail may be omitted. Inaddition, the content included in the “unlabeled data packet” is to bereferred to as the “unlabeled content” which the sender transmitswithout labeling a certain receiver. Therefore, the sender may generallytransmit the unlabeled data packet or unlabeled content to all (ormultiple) members of the group to which the sender also belongs.

As used herein, a “labeled data packet” refers to a data packet whichincludes a content which is in turn transmitted by the sender to acertain receiver, while the sender desires or requests a labeledreceiver to read or confirm the content transmitted by the sender. Thatis, the “labeled data packet” is the data packet which includes acontent which is labeled to a certain receiver by the sender. It isnoted that the “labeled data packet” includes at least one “labelsignal” in addition to the content and at least one of the header andthe tail. In addition, the content which is included in the “labeleddata packet” is to be referred to as the “labeled content,” i.e., thecontent which the sender specifically labels a certain receiver as the“labeled receiver.”

Accordingly, the sender may generally label at least one member of thegroup as a labeled receiver, and may transmit the labeled data packet orlabeled content to the labeled receiver, while also transmitting thesame labeled data packet or labeled content to al (or some) members ofthe same group. In contrary, depending upon the configuration of theterminal, app or server or the feature of the network, the sender maytransmit the labeled data packet or labeled content only to the labeledreceiver, while not transmitting the labeled data packet or labeledcontent to the rest of the members of the group.

It is noted that the content (i.e., the “unlabeled content”) which isincluded in the “unlabeled data packet” may generally have the format orconfiguration which is identical or similar to the format orconfiguration of the content (i.e., the “labeled content”) which isincluded in the “labeled data packet.” That is, when a content isincluded in the “unlabeled data packet,” the content may be to bereferred to as the “unlabeled content,” while the similar or samecontent is to be referred to as the “labeled content” when such acontent is included in the “labeled data packet.”

The terminal may incorporate the “label signal” into the header, contentor tail of the labeled data packet. Alternatively, the terminal may notinclude the “label signal” in the data packet at all. In this latterconfiguration, the terminal may transmit or receive the “label signal”separately or independently from the data packet. To this end, theterminal may transmit or receive the “label signal” as an individual orseparate signal or may form an additional data packet which includes the“label signal” therein. That is, the terminal may use a labeled datapacket which may have a structure or a format which may be differentfrom those of the conventional data packet. In such a case, the “labeleddata packet” may include the label signal or the labeled content asexplained hereinabove or hereinafter. Alternatively, the terminal maytransmit the label signal or the labeled content to the terminal of areceiver or transmit information about the label signal or the labeledcontent to the receiver's terminal.

A user driving various terminals of this disclosure may manipulate acertain app which is implemented into the terminal and which allows theuser to set up a certain group of multiple members and to exchange thecontent with at least one of such members. As used herein, “(regular)set up” or simply “set up” means an operation in which a content senderwho belongs to a certain group sets up the rest of the members of thegroup as the receivers (i.e., “regular receiver”) of his or her content.Thus, when a sender transmits such a content (i.e., the “unlabeledcontent” which is included in the “unlabeled data packet”) to allmembers of a certain group, such members may receive the contents in thedata packets of the same type, and then display the content of the sametype on the display unit.

When the receiver's terminal receives the content which is transmittedby the sender, the receiver's terminal may display the content in acontent window provided by a certain app. In addition, the sender'sterminal may or may not display the content which was transmitted by thesender in the same content window. Unless otherwise stated, when asender who belongs to a certain group transmits a content, the terminalof this disclosure or the app implemented to the terminal may alsodisplay the content in the content window of the sender's terminal. Thesender's terminal may also display the content transmitted by the senderdifferently, thereby allowing the sender to easily recognize that thecontent is the one which he transmitted.

Contrary to such “set up” and as used herein, “label” of this disclosuremeans an operation in which a content sender labels and selects at leastone member (i.e., at least one “labeled receiver”) of a certain groupthat is established in a certain app, and in which the labeled receiveris specifically asked by the content sender to read or confirm thecontent. The sender or terminal may employ various methods to create the“label signal,” and the terminal may create the “labeled data packet”which includes the label signal. As the content sender selects at leastone labeled receiver and transmits the labeled data packet whichincludes the labeled content, the labeled receiver and the rest of themembers of the group receive the labeled content. Thereafter, theterminals of the rest of the members may display the labeled content asthe unlabeled content in the display unit. However, the terminal of thelabeled receiver displays the labeled content in the format which isdifferent from a format of the unlabeled content. As a result, thelabeled receiver may easily recognize that he or she has been asked bythe content sender to read or confirm the labeled content.

The terminal of the content sender may transmit the content and thelabel signal in various formats or types. For example, the terminal [1]may incorporate the content and label signal into the labeled datapacket, and transmit the labeled data packet, [2] may separatelytransmit the label signal and the unlabeled data packet, where theunlabeled data packet includes the content and information that maydesignate the label signal to the unlabeled data packet (or vice versa),or [3] may separately transmit the label signal and the unlabeled datapacket, where the unlabeled data packet includes the content, and wherea server stores information which can designate the label signal to theunlabeled data packet (or vice versa). The receiver's terminal may alsoreceive the label signal in various formats or types. For example, theterminal [1] may receive the labeled data packet, and may extract thecontent and label signal from the labeled data packet, or [2] mayreceive the label signal, confirm the unlabeled data packet which isdesignated to the label signal, and then extract the labeled contentfrom the unlabeled data packet.

As used herein, “push information” refers to various contents, datapackets or label signals which various senders such as an internetpublisher or a server may transmit to a receiver through the internet ora network. It is noted that such push information may be deemed to be anopposite to information which may be initiated by a user's request andthen transferred as a pull/get format. Therefore, the push informationmeans various data packets or contents such as, e.g., [1] a labeled datapacket, [2] an unlabeled data packet, [3] a labeled content, or [4] anunlabeled content, where the contents of the [1] and [2] of thisparagraph are identical to those defined above. When the sender'sterminal transmits a label signal separately from a data packet, thelabel signal may be regarded as the push information as well.

More particularly, various senders can send the push information. Forexample, when multiple members of a certain group established in acertain app can exchange contents, a user who also is the member of thegroup can be a sender of the push information. In such a case, theterminal or app may receive the content from the user, and then transmitthe content to the rest of the members of the group as the pushinformation. When desirable, the terminal or app may also transmit thecontent to the user. Alternatively, a certain member who may not be theuser but who also belongs to the same group can be a sender of the pushinformation. In this case, the terminal or app of that member receivesthe content from that member, and transmit the content to the rest ofthe members of the same group as the push information. In this case, the“all” members may include the user therein.

When a certain app is not used to exchange contents between multiplemembers, the terminal or app may provide a user with a content which theterminal or the app creates itself or which the terminal or app receivesfrom an external source. In this case, the sender of the pushinformation may be the terminal or the app. When various electrical orelectronic devices create the content and then transmits the contentdirectly to the terminal of a receiver, the device may be the sender ofthe push information. But when the device may create the content andtransmit the content to a server and when the server transmits thecontent to the receiver, the electrical or electronic device may be thesender of the push information or, in the alternative, the server may bedeemed as the sender of the push information.

The push information may also be transmitted by other senders. Forexample, the server or the internet publisher may transmit the pushinformation without a command from the terminal or user. Similarly, theterminal may transmit the push information without a command from theuser. In addition, various control units, data processing units orcommunication units of the aforementioned vehicles, buildings,airplanes, drones or robots may create the push information without anycommand from [1] a user, [2] an IoT network, or [3] a manager of the IoTnetwork, and may then transmit the information to the terminal of thereceiver as the push information.

As used herein, “push notification” means a numeral, a character, asymbol, a text, an image or a sound which may represent a number or atype of the “push information” which a receiver of a certain groupestablished in a certain app may receive.

It is appreciated that various senders of the push information (e.g. aterminal, a server or an app) may provide such push notification invarious methods. In one example, when a sender (i.e., the sender meansthe push information sender only in this paragraph) provides a pushinformation, a receiver's terminal or app informs a user of the pushinformation in the form of a push notification, particularly, in theform of an unread icon badge or an (unread) labeled icon badge. Thus,when the user turns on a display unit, the terminal may display an appicon attached with an unread icon badge or a labeled icon badge. As theuser provides another user input to the app icon, the terminal maydisplay a group window which may then a number of unread contents foreach group displayed in the group window. In other words, in thisconfiguration, the user may not be able to find out whether there is anyunread push information waiting to be read or confirmed by the user,until a user turns on a display unit.

In another example, when a sender (i.e., the sender means the sender ofthe push information in this paragraph as well) provides a pushinformation, a receiver's terminal or app may inform the receiver of thepush information in the form of the push notification as explained inthe above paragraph, not only in an unlock state but also in a lockstate (e.g., a state where a display unit is turned on but a user hasnot passed a user authentication or has not typed in a correct password)or even in an off-state (e.g., a state in which a display unit may beturned off). More particularly, the terminal or app may display theunread icon badge or an (unread) labeled icon badge in the lock state orin the off state, except displaying routine data in the off state.Therefore, a user may easily find out whether he has received an unread(unlabeled or labeled) content while his terminal is in the off state orin the lock state.

In general, the routine data refer to those data obtainable withoutrunning an operation in response to a user input. It is noted that suchroutine data may relate to, e.g., various information such as, e.g., adate, a time, a clock, a stopwatch, a battery charge, a temperature, aweather, a wireless connection, an armed alarm, an arrival of a newe-mail or a new message, a notice of an incoming call, a notice of anupcoming event, or the like. In addition, when a terminal may displayroutine data or other information on a display unit while keeping “atleast 80% of the pixels” of such a display unit turned off, this displayunit is also deemed to be turned off and to be in an off state withinthe scope of this disclosure.

It is also noted that the terminal may provide the push notificationalong with various visual, audible or tactile signals. In other words,the terminal may provide various push notifications as exemplified inthe above three paragraphs, while the terminal also provides the visual,audible or tactile signals in order to inform a user of a reception ofan unread content. For example, upon receiving the unread content, theterminal may turn on the display unit or other output units, make soundsor generate vibrations. The terminal may also generate such signalsbefore, during or after providing such push notifications.

It is noted that such push notification may be purpose specific.Accordingly, details of such push notification may differ depending upona purpose or various characteristics of each app. Followings exemplifydetailed characteristics of the push notification for different apps. Itis appreciated that, although details of the push notification areexemplified for only ten different apps below, various features of thisdisclosure may also apply to other apps, along with such visual, audibleor tactile signals explained in the above paragraph.

For example, for a “wired or wireless calling app,” examples of the“push notification” may include, but not limited to [1] a number ofcalls missed by a user, [2] information related to a caller of themissed call, a phone number of the caller, or a time of such missedcall, [3] a number of calls that the user answered after a certain timeor during a certain period, [4] information related to such call of the[3] of this paragraph, its caller, a phone number of the caller, or atime of the call, [5] a number of voice or text messages left by thecaller of the [1] or [2] of this paragraph, [6] information related tothe left message of the [5] of this paragraph, its caller, a phonenumber of the caller or a time of the left message, or [7] informationrelated to a status a wired or wireless phone or a state of malfunctionof the phone. Such push notification may be limited to [8] informationnot confirmed or read by a user (or contents related to such unreadinformation) of the [1] to [7] of this paragraph, or [9] both of theunread and read information (or content related to such information) ofthe [1] to [7] of this paragraph which has been received after a certaintime.

In the case of a “SNS app,” examples of the “push notification” mayinclude, but not be limited to, [1] a number of messages including acharacter, a symbol or a text, [2] information related to a sender or atime of reception of the message of the [1] of this paragraph, [3] anumber of the image files received by the user, [4] information which isrelated to a size, a sender or a time of reception of the image file ofthe [3] of this paragraph, [5] a number of received voice files, [6]information related to a sender or a time of reception of the voice fileof the [5] of this paragraph, [7] a number of the SNS contents which auser has not responded, or [8] information related to a sender or a timeof reception of the content of the [7] of this paragraph. Instead, thepush information may be related to [9] the unread information (orcontents related to such information) of the [1] to [8] of thisparagraph, or [10] both the unread and read information (or contentrelated to such information) of the [1] to [8] of this paragraph whichhas been received after a certain time.

In the case of a “groupware software app,” examples of the “pushnotification” may include, but not limited to, [1] a number of messageswhich may include a character, a symbol or a text, [2] informationrelated to a sender or a time of reception of the message of the [1] ofthis paragraph, [3] a number of received image files, [4] informationrelated to a size, a sender or a time of reception of the image file ofthe [3] of this paragraph, [5] a number of received voice files, [6]information related to a sender or a time of reception of the voice fileof the [5] of this paragraph, [7] a number of unread groupware messages,[8] information related to a sender or a time of reception of themessage of the [7] of this paragraph, [9] a number of notice messagesuploaded by a manager of a certain group, or [10] information related toa time of reception of the message of the [9] of this paragraph.Instead, the push notification may be related to [11] the unreadinformation (or contents related to such information) of the [1] to [10]of this paragraph, or [12] both of the read and unread information (orcontents related to such information) of the [1] to [10] of thisparagraph that has been received after a certain time.

In the case of a “messenger app,” examples of the “push notification”may include, but not be limited to [1] a number of messages which mayinclude a text, a character or a symbol, [2] information which isrelated to a sender or a time of reception of the message of the [1] ofthis paragraph, [3] a number of received image files, [4] informationrelated to a size, a sender or a time of reception of the image file ofthe [3] of this paragraph, [5] a number of received voice files, or [6]information related to a sender or a time of reception of the voice fileof the [5] of this paragraph. In addition, the push notification [7] maybe limited to the unread information (or contents related to suchinformation) of the [1] to [6] of this paragraph, or [8] may be relatedto both the reed and unread information (or contents related to suchinformation) of the [1] to [6] of this paragraph which has been receivedafter a certain time.

In the case of an “e-mail app,” examples of the “push notification” mayinclude, but not be limited to [1] a number of e-mails which may includea character, a text or a symbol, [2] information related to a sender ora time of reception of the e-mail of the [1] of this paragraph, [3] anumber of received image files, [4] information which is related to asize, a sender or a time of reception of the image file of the [3] ofthis paragraph, [5] a number of received voice files, [6] informationrelated to a sender or a time of reception of the voice file of the [5]of this paragraph, [7] a number of e-mails with or without anattachment, or [8] information related to a sender or a time ofreception of the e-mail of the [7] of this paragraph. Or the pushnotification [9] may be limited to the unread information (or contentsrelated to such information) of the [1] to [8] of this paragraph, or[10] may be related to both the read and unread information (or content)of the [1] to [8] of this paragraph which has been received after acertain time.

For a “scheduling app,” examples of the “push notification” may include,but not be limited to, [1] a number of imminent appointments, [2]information related to a location, a time or participants of theappointment of the [1] of this paragraph, [2] a number of the confirmedappointments, [4] information related to a location, a time orparticipants of the appointment of the [3] of this paragraph, [5] anumber of confirmed appointments in which the user has failed toparticipate, [6] information which is related to a location, a time oran agenda of the appointment of the [5] of this paragraph, [7] a numberof appointments in which a user has a special task, or [8] informationrelated to a location or a time of the appointment of the [7] of thisparagraph. Alternatively, the push information [9] may be limited to theunread information (or contents related to such information) of the [1]to [8] of this paragraph, or [10] may be related to both the read andunread information (or contents related to such information) of the [1]to [10] of this paragraph which has been received after a certain time.

In the case of an “ad displaying app,” examples of such “pushnotification” may include, but not be limited to, [1] a number ofmessages which may include characters, symbols or texts related to anad, [2] a number of image files related to an ad, [3] a number of voicefiles related to an ad, [4] information which is related to a sender ora time of reception of ad of the [1] to [3] of this paragraph, [5] anumber of ads relates to products or services which a user has alreadyrequested or reserved, [6] information which is related to a sender or atime of reception of the ad of the [5] of this paragraph, [7] a numberof ads which includes special sales offer or other benefits, [8]information related to a sender or a time of reception of the ad of the[7] of this paragraph, [9] a number of ads related to a user'spreference which has been already provided by the user, [10] informationrelated to a sender or a time of reception of the ad of the [9] of thisparagraph, [11] a number of ads related to a current location of theuser or a destination of the user, or [12] information related to asender or a time of reception of such an ad of the [11] of thisparagraph. Instead, the push information [13] may be limited to suchunread information (or contents related to such information) of the [1]to [12] of this paragraph, or [14] may be related to both read andunread information (or contents related to such information) of the [1]to [14] of this paragraph which has been received after a certain time.

In the case of an “event notifying app,” examples of the “pushnotification” may include, but not be limited to [1] a number ofmessages which is related to a certain event already selected by a useror other events similar to the certain event and which also includes atext, a symbol or a character, [2] a number of image files or voicefiles related to the event of the [1] of this paragraph, [3] informationrelated to a location or a time the event of the [1] and [2] of thisparagraph, [4] a number of messages which include a character, a symbolor a text and which is related to an event which can cause a certainevent, i.e., which can be an economic or political cause of the event,[5] a number of images files or voice files related to the event of the[4] of this paragraph, or [6] information related to a location or atime of the event of the [4] of this paragraph. Examples of suchinformation related to the above event may include, but not be limitedto [7] information of an event related to the safety or health of theuser, [8] information of an economic event related to stocks, bonds orreal estate investment of a user, or [9] information of an event relatedto the user, user's family or user's acquaintances. Instead, such pushinformation [10] may be limited to the unread information (or contentsrelated to such information) of the [1] to [9] of this paragraph, or[11] may be related to both the read and unread information (or contentsrelated to such information) of the [1] to [9] of this paragraph whichhas been received after a certain time.

In the case of an “alarm app,” examples of the “push notification” mayinclude, but not be limited to [1] information related to a certaintime, [2] information related to a remaining time to a certain time, [3]information related to a remaining time to a certain appointment, or [4]information related to a location or an agenda of the time of the [1] to[3] of this paragraph. Or the push information [5] may be limited to theunread information (or contents related to the information) of the [1]to [4] of this paragraph, or [6] may be related to both the read andunread information (or contents related to such information) of the [1]to [4] of this paragraph which has been received after a certain time.

In the case of an “control app” for the aforementioned various electricdevices or electronic devices, examples of the “push notification” mayinclude, but not be limited to [1] a number of requests to a user foruser's control or user's command requested by the device, [2]information related to a type of the control or command of the [1] ofthis paragraph, [3] a numeral representing the extent of completion of acertain operation which is run by the device according to such a controlor command, [4] a number of a part or an operation of the device whichrequires the user's control, [5] a number of malfunctioning parts oroperations of the device, [6] a numeral representing the operationalstatus of the device, [7] a number of imminent control by or commandfrom the user, or [8] a number of operations which has been run by thedevice for a certain period or after a certain time. Or the pushinformation [9] may be limited to the unread information (or contentsrelated to such information) of the [1] to [8] of this paragraph, or[10] both the read and unread information (or contents related to suchinformation) of the [1] to [8] of this paragraph which has been receivedafter a certain time.

As used herein, each of a sender, a receiver, and a user can drive hisor her own mobile data processing terminal, and each of them is also amember of a certain group established by a certain app. As used herein,a “sender” is a member of the group of the app, and the “sender” may bea “user” of the terminal of this disclosure. In general, the sender mayset up all members of the group as the receivers, and [1] may transmitan unlabeled content to all members by transmitting an unlabeled datapacket to all members, or [2] may transmit a labeled content to alabeled receiver by transmitting a labeled data packet to the labeledreceiver, however, may transmit an unlabeled content to the rest of thereceivers of the group.

As used herein, a “receiver” is also a member of the group establishedby the app, and the “receiver” may be a “user” of the terminal of thisdisclosure. In general, the receiver may receive a content from thesender, together with the rest of the members of the group. The receivermay also be classified as the “unlabeled (or regular) receiver” or the“labeled receiver” depending on the nature of the received data packetor the received content.

As used herein, an “unlabeled (or regular) receiver” is one of thereceivers. An unlabeled receiver may receive an unlabeled data packettransmitted by a sender and, therefore, may receive an unlabeledcontent. That is, an unlabeled receiver may receive an unlabeled datapacket as well as an unlabeled content, both transmitted by the sender,under the same condition as the rest (except a labeled receiver) of themembers. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, “all unlabeledreceivers” of a certain group that may be established by a certain appmay be deemed to be identical to “all members except a labeled receiver”of the same group.

As used herein, a “labeled receiver” is one of the receivers. Thelabeled receiver may receive a labeled data packet which is transmittedby a sender and, therefore, may also receive a labeled contenttransmitted by the sender. In one example, when a sender transmits thelabeled data packet, the rest of the members of the group may receivethe unlabeled data packet, but the labeled receiver may receive thelabeled data packet which includes a label signal. Accordingly, unlessotherwise specified, “at least one of the receivers” can be the “labeledreceiver,” i.e., “at least one of the members” can be the “labeledreceiver.” But in another example, when a sender transmits the labeleddata packet, al members' terminals may receive the labeled data packetwhich includes the label signal [1] through the server or [2] directlyfrom the sender's terminal. Upon confirming from a label signal that areceiver is the labeled receiver, the terminal (or app) of the labeledreceiver may display the content included in the labeled data packet asa labeled content on its display unit. However, upon confirming from alabel signal that a receiver is not the labeled receiver, the terminal(or app) of the unlabeled receiver may then display the content includedin the labeled data packet as an unlabeled content on its display unit.

In general, this disclosure provides detailed configurational andoperational features for the cases where a sender or a terminal selectsa single labeled receiver. However, such configurational or operationalfeatures apply to the cases where a sender or a terminal selectsmultiple labeled receivers. In addition, this disclosure providesdetails of the transmission or the reception of the label signalaccording to one of two examples explained in the above paragraph.However, those two examples are similar or identical to each other,except those differences provided in the above paragraph and, therefore,may be interchangeably used.

As used herein, a “user” is a member of a group which is established byan app, and is either a sender or a receiver. Unless otherwisespecified, when a user receives a content from a sender, the user iseither a labeled receiver or an unlabeled receiver. That is, when a useris a receiver, depending on the types of the data packet or the presenceor absence of the label signal, the user is either a labeled receiver oran unlabeled receiver, as will be explained in further detail below.

When this disclosure uses the phrase that a user transmits (or sends) acontent to “all members” of a certain group, such “all members” aredeemed to include all members of the group, including the user. As aresult, a terminal of the user may also display such a content which theuser himself transmitted. It is noted that a user's terminal may displaya content which the user created on a content window of the user'sterminal using various methods. The first exemplary method is a displaybased upon transmission. In other words, when a user creates a contentand transmits the content to a server or directly to a receiver'sterminal, a user's terminal may then display such a content directly onits content window. In this case, the server may transmit the samecontent back to the user's terminal or may not do so. The different andsecond exemplary method is a display based upon reception. That is, whena user creates a content and then transmits the content to a server, theserver may transmit the content to all members of the group, includingthe user. Accordingly, the user's terminal may receive the content, andthen display such a content as a sort of “received content.”

Accordingly, as used herein, the phrase that “a user transmits (orsends) a content to all members of a certain group” is deemed to meanthat the user transmits his own content to all members of the group,including himself, where the user's terminal may display the content onits content window using either of two methods explained in the aboveparagraph.

Unless otherwise specified, detailed explanations about variousoperations run by various terminals of this disclosure are to beprovided on the perspective of the “user.” However, because the user maybe the sender or the receiver, such explanations hereinafter may also beunderstood in the perspective of the sender or the receiver.

This disclosure may classify the contents into different types basedupon whether or not a certain receiver of a certain group established ina certain app is labeled as a “labeled receiver.”

As used herein, an “unlabeled (or undesignated) content” means a contentwhich may be included in an unlabeled data packet, where a sender of theunlabeled data packet may set up all members of the group as the“unlabeled receivers” and where the sender may send the content to suchall members in the form of such push information. The unlabeled datapacket may not include the “label signal,” and [1] may include a word, atext, an image or a sound which sets up all members of the group in itscontent, header or tail, or [2] may not include any word, text, image orsound which may label a certain member in its content, header or tail.When a user is not a receiver of a labeled content, such a user may be[1] an unlabeled receiver of an unlabeled data packet which the sendertransmits, or [2] a sender of an unlabeled content. That is, theunlabeled data packet which includes the unlabeled content may include aheader, a content, and a tail, [1] where neither of the header, thecontent, nor the tail may include the “label signal” or [2] where theunlabeled data packet is not provided along with another data packetwhich includes the “label signal.”

That is, the “unlabeled content” is a content which is included in adata packet not including a “label signal” and [1] which is transmittedto all members of a group after the user sets up such all members, [2]which includes a word, a text, an image or a sound that may refer to allmembers of the group, even when the user does not set up all members ofthe group as the receivers, or [3] which may not include a word, a text,an image or a sound that may label a certain member, even when the userdoes not set up all members as the receivers.

In contrary, the “unlabeled content” received by the user does notinclude the “label signal” and may correspond to the content [1] whichthe sender may transmit to all members of the group after setting upsuch all members as the receivers, [2] which may include a word, a soundor an image which may refer to all members, even when the user does notset up all members as the receivers, or [3] which may not include anyword, image or sound which may label a certain member, even when theuser does not set up all members of the group as the receivers.

As used herein, a “labeled (or designated) content” means a contentwhich may be included in a labeled data packet, where a sender of thelabeled data packet may set up all members of the group as the“unlabeled receivers,” where the sender may create a “label signal,”thereby labeling a single or multiple members of the group as the“labeled receiver,” and where the sender transmits the content to suchall members, including the labeled receiver in the form of such pushinformation. The labeled data packet may include a content, a tail, aheader, and a “label signal,” where the labeled data packet may onlyinclude one of the header or tail. The sender of the labeled content [1]may select the labeled receiver himself, thereby creating the labelsignal, or [2] may create the label signal himself, thereby selectingthe labeled receiver.

In contrary, even when the sender of the labeled content does not createthe label signal himself, a terminal may proactively create the labelsignal. For example, when a sender sets up all members of the group asthe receivers and transmits a content to all members, the content sendermay not create the “label signal” himself. However, the content mayinclude a “label request information” such as, e.g., [1] a name, a titleor a nickname of a certain member of the group, or [2] a text, an imageor a sound representing the certain member of the group. The terminalmay employ various prior art information analysis algorithm in order tosearch for the presence of the label request information. Uponconfirming such label request information from the content, the terminalmay create the “label signal” and include the signal into the datapacket. As a result, the terminal may create such a data packet as the“labeled data packet” and the content which is included in such a datapacket becomes the “labeled content.”

Once the labeled data packet is created, the sender (or terminal) maytransmit the labeled content to a labeled receiver and recommend thelabeled receiver to confirm the labeled content. Similarly, the labeledreceiver may readily find out the labeled content labeled to him. It isnoted that the user may be [1] a sender of the labeled content, [2] anunlabeled receiver but not the labeled receiver of the labeled content,or [3 the unlabeled receiver as well as the labeled receiver of thelabeled content. However, as explained below, the user may be thelabeled receiver but not the unlabeled receiver, depending upon thetypes of the data packet or the label signal.

In other words, the “labeled content” which is transmitted by a sendermay be the content [1] where the sender sets up all members of a certaingroup as the “unlabeled receivers” and where the sender labels a certainmember as the “labeled receiver,” [2] where the sender sets up allmembers of the group as the “unlabeled receivers” and does not label anymember as the “labeled receiver,” however, such a content may includethe “label request information,” or [3] where the sender does not labelany member of the group as the “labeled receiver” and where the contentdoes not include any character, word, text, image or sound which sets upall members as the unlabeled receivers.

To the contrary, the “labeled content” which is received by the user maybe the content [1] where the sender sets up all members as the“unlabeled receiver” and where the sender also labels the user as the“labeled receiver” or [2] where the sender sets up all members as the“unlabeled receivers” and does not label any member as the “labeledreceiver,” however the content may include the label requestinformation.

As used herein and in the perspective of a receiver, a “partly labeled(or partly designated) content” refers to a content which may not be [1]the “labeled content” or [2] the “unlabeled content.” For example and inthe perspective of a sender of a certain group established by a certainapp, exemplary partly labeled contents may include those contents [1]where the sender sets up all members of the group as the “unlabeledcontent” and where the sender labels at least one but all of suchmembers as the “labeled receiver,” [2] where the sender sets up at leastone but not all of such members as the “unlabeled receivers” and wherethe sender also labels a certain member as the “labeled receiver,” or[3] where the sender sets up multiple but not all of the members as the“unlabeled receivers” but where the sender also labels some “unlabeledmembers” as the “labeled receivers.”

Further exemplary partly labeled contents in the perspective of a userwho belongs to a certain group established by a certain app may alsoinclude those contents [1] where the user sets up all members of thegroup as the “unlabeled receivers” but labels some but not all of suchmembers as the “labeled receivers,” [2] where the user sets up multiplebut not all members of such a group as the “unlabeled receivers” butwhere the sender also labels a certain unlabeled receiver as the“labeled receiver,” or [3] where the user sets up some but not allmembers as the “unlabeled receivers” but where the sender labelsmultiple unlabeled receivers as the “labeled receivers.”

Various exemplary aspects of this disclosure focus on cases wherevarious contents are classified into two types, Accordingly, unlessotherwise specified, the partly labeled content may be deemed as thelabeled content hereinafter.

This disclosure may also classify the contents into different typesbased upon whether or not a receiver of a certain group established by acertain app has read or confirmed a received content. As used herein, an“unread content” refers to the content where a sender of a certain groupof a certain app transmitted to a receiver but where a receiver has notrun the app after receiving the content and, thus, the receiver has notread or confirmed the content. That is, the unread content is the onewhich a single or multiple senders transmitted to the receiver, wherethe unread contents may include “M” (unread) unlabeled contents and “N”(unread) labeled contents, and where “M” and “N” range from “0” to anyinteger.

In contrary, a “read content” refers to the content where a single ormultiple senders of a certain group established by a certain app hastransmitted the content to a receiver and where the receiver has run theapp after receiving the content and, thus, the receiver gas read orconfirmed the content. Thus, the read contents may include “M” (read)unlabeled contents and “N” (read) labeled contents, where “M” and “N”range from “0” to any integer.

As used herein, an “icon badge” refers to a badge which may represent“push notification” which may in turn be related to various pushinformation which may be received by a certain app implemented into aterminal. Such an icon badge may represent a number of such pushinformation or a type of such push information. For example, torepresent the number of the push information, the icon badge maymanipulate [1] a numeral, a character or a figure, [2] a font or athickness of the numeral, character or figure, [3] a background, a sizeor a shape of such a numeral, character or figure, [4] a location, anarrangement or an orientation of the numeral, character or figure, or[5] a color, a brightness, a chroma, a transparency or an intensity ofthe numeral, character or figure.

To represent a substance or a type of the push information, an iconbadge may similarly manipulate [1] a code numeral (e.g., a numeral “1”means a text, a numeral “2” means an image or a numeral “3” means asound), [2] a font or a thickness of such a code numeral or character,[3] a background, a size or a shape of the code numeral, character orfigure, [4] a location, an arrangement or an orientation of thecharacter, code numeral or figure, or [5] a color, a brightness, achroma or an intensity of the code numeral, character or figure.

As discussed above, this disclosure may also classify the contents intodifferent types based upon whether or not a receiver of a certain groupestablished by a certain app has read or confirmed a received content.As used herein, an “unread icon badge” refers to a badge which mayrepresent a number, a type or a substance of unread contents in acertain group or in a certain app. As defined hereinabove, an “unreadcontent” refers to the content where a single or multiple senders of acertain group or a certain app transmits the content to a receiver, butwhere the receiver has not run the app after receiving the content and,accordingly, the receiver has not read or confirmed the content. Theterminal may represent the unread icon badge by various manipulatingmethods described heretofore and hereinafter.

In contrary and as used herein, a “read icon badge” refers to a badgewhich may represent a number, a type or a substance of the read contentsin a certain group or in a certain app. As defined hereinabove, a “readcontent” refers to the content where a single or multiple senders of acertain group or a certain app transmitted a content to a receiver, andwhere the receiver ran the app after he has received the content and,accordingly, the receiver has read or confirmed the content. The readicon badge may represent [1] a number, a type or a substance of thecontents which a receiver has read or confirmed during a certain period,[2] a number, a type or a substance of the contents which a receiver hasread or confirmed out of all contents which have been transmitted by acertain sender, or [3] a number, a type or a substance of the contentswhich the receiver has read or confirmed out of all contents which havebeen transmitted by multiple members of the group. The terminal may ormay not display the read icon badge. The terminal may also represent theread icon badge by various manipulating methods as described heretoforeand hereinafter.

This disclosure may classify the contents into different types basedupon whether or not a sender of a certain group which is established bya certain app labels a content receiver while creating or transmittingthe content. For example and as used herein, an “unlabeled icon badge”means a badge which represents a number, a type or a substance of an“unlabeled content” which a sender creates or transmits withoutspecifically labeling a labeled receiver. In contrary and as usedherein, a “labeled icon badge” means a badge which represents a number,a type or a substance of a “labeled content” which a sender creates ortransmits while a sender or terminal specifically labels at least onereceiver as the labeled receiver. The terminal may represent the“unlabeled icon badge” or “labeled icon badge” by various manipulatingmethods as described hereinafter and hereinabove.

Unless otherwise specified, an “unlabeled content” and a “labeledcontent” are deemed to mean an “unread unlabeled content” and an “unreadlabeled content” in this disclosure, respectively. Similarly and unlessotherwise specified, a “partly labeled content” is deemed to mean an“unread partly labeled content” Unless otherwise specified, an“unlabeled icon badge” and a “labeled icon badge” are deemed to mean an“unread unlabeled icon badge” and “unread labeled icon badge,”respectively.

As used herein, a “user input” collectively refers to various inputs ofvarious types which a user directly or indirectly provides to an inputunit of a terminal by directly or indirectly manipulating at least oneportion of the input unit. The user may provide the user input in manydifferent methods. For example, a user may provide the user input [1] byusing at least one body part of the user, [2] by manipulating at leastone non-user object (to be simply referred to as an “object”) such as,e.g., a special pen, a stylus, and the like, or [3] by employing variousmechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic or acoustic methods aswill be explained below.

For simplicity of illustration, the phrase that a user “provides a userinput” to at least one input unit of a terminal means [1] that the usermay provide the user input using at least one of his body part, [2] thatthe user may provide the user input by manipulating at least one object(i.e., the above non-user object) which can be recognized by variousinput units of a terminal, [3] that the terminal may proactively acquire(e.g., while the user is not aware of such acquisition) such biometricinformation of the user, or [4] that the terminal may acquireelectromagnetic waves or acoustic waves which are related to the user orthe non-user object.

As used herein, a “mechanical user input” may refer to a user input thatmay be provided to at least a portion of an input unit by a user'sdirect and mechanical manipulation of the portion. Examples of themechanical user input may include, but not be limited to [1] “moving”such as, e.g., [1-1] pressing, pushing, pulling or sliding up or down orleft to right, [1-2] rotating or pivoting at least a portion of theinput unit about an axis of rotation, or [1-3] other manipulation of theportion, [2] “touching (or contacting)” between a user's body part andthe portion of the input unit, or [3] a combination of the [1] and [2]of this paragraph.

Other examples of the mechanical user input may include user's“mechanical biometric information,” where examples of the mechanicaluser input may include, e.g., a blood pressure or a heart rate measuredin a certain position of the user, a blood flow rate measured at anothercertain position of the user, other cardiovascular information, abreathing rate in rest or during exercise, a respiratory flow rate,other respiratory information, or other biometric information related toskeletal or muscular body parts.

The mechanical user input may also relate to a “static feature” or a“dynamic feature” of the above mechanical user input. Examples of such amechanical user input may include, e.g., [1] a (scalar or vector) forceassociated with a movement of at least a portion of an input unit or acontact between the portion of the input unit and the user's body part.[2] a (scalar or vector) velocity of such a movement, [3] a (scalar orvector) acceleration of the movement, [4] a (scalar or vector)displacement of the portion due to the movement, [5] a direction of theforce, velocity, acceleration or displacement, [6] a direction of thecontact, [7] a duration of the [1] through [6] of this paragraph, [8] anumber (of applications) of the repetition of the [1] to [6] of thisparagraph, [9] a temporal overlap between at least two of the [1] to [6]of this paragraph, or [10] a temporal gap between two of the [1] to [6]of this paragraph.

The mechanical user input may also include a “mechanical property” of auser's body part or that of a non-user object which is used to providethe mechanical user input to the portion of the input unit, whereexamples of such mechanical user input may include, e.g., an elasticity,a roughness, various moduli, or the like. An amplitude or a frequency ofa force exerted onto a sensor of an input unit is also an example ofthis mechanical user input.

As used herein, an “electrical user input” is an electrical signal whichis provided to at least a portion of an input unit capable of receivingsuch a user input. For example, a user may use [1] a non-user object(e.g., a special pen, a wearable device or other portable devices) togenerate and provide a direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC)electrical signal to the input unit, or [2] another terminal so as togenerate and provide the electrical signal. A user may also provideelectrical biometric information of his body part as the electrical userinput, where examples of such electrical user inputs may include, butnot be limited to, an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyogram (EMG),an electroencephalogram (EEG), or any other electrical signals measuredin a certain position of the body.

The electrical user input may also relate to a “static feature” or a“dynamic feature” of the electrical user input. Examples of thiselectrical user input may include, e.g., [1] an electrical current, [2]an electrical voltage, [3] an electrical power, [4] a magnitude or anamplitude of the [1] to [3] of this paragraph, [5] a phase angle of such[1] to [3], [6] a phase lag of such [1] to [3], [7] a frequency of such[1] to [3], [8] a wave-length of such [1] to [3], or [9] a (scalar orvector) flux of such [1] to [3].

The electrical user input may further include an “electrical property”of a user's body part or a non-user object which is used to provide theelectrical user input to a proper portion of the input unit, whereexamples of the electrical user input may include various electricalproperties of the body part or the object such as a resistivity, aconductivity, a capacitance, a permittivity, a dielectric property or athermoelectricity, where such electrical properties may be measured in aconstant (or dynamic) electric or magnetic field. A fingerprint of auser monitored by a capacitive sensor of a capacitive input unit is anexample of this electrical user input.

As used herein, a “magnetic user input” is a magnetic signal provided toat least one portion of an input unit capable of receiving such amagnetic user input. For example, a user may employ [1] a non-userobject such as a special pen, a wearable device or other portabledevices to provide a direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC)magnetic signal to the input unit, or [2] another terminal for providingthe magnetic signal. A user may also provide various magnetic biometricinformation of his body part as the magnetic user input, where examplesof such magnetic user inputs may be a magnetocardiogram (MCG), amagnetoencephalogram (MEG), a magnetomyogram (MMG), or any othermagnetic signals measured in a certain position of the body.

The magnetic user input may also relate to a static feature or a dynamicfeature of the magnetic user input. Examples of such magnetic userinputs may include a magnitude of its magnetic B-field or H-field, itsdirection, a number or a property of magnetic poles, a phase angle, aphase lag, a frequency, a wave-length, or a (scalar or vector) flux. Themagnetic user input may include a “magnetic property” of a user's bodypart or a non-user object which is employed to provide the magnetic userinput to the portion of the input unit. Examples of such magnetic userinput may include, e.g., various magnetic properties such as, e.g., amagnetic polarity, a magnetic permeability or a magnetic susceptibility.Such magnetic properties may be measured in a constant (or dynamic)electric or magnetic field.

As used herein, an “electromagnetic user input” is variouselectromagnetic waves emitted to at least a portion of an input unitwhich may be able to receive the electromagnetic user input. Forexample, a user may employ various portable devices which may beimplemented to or synchronized with various articles and which mayprovide the electromagnetic waves having various frequencies. Examplesof the above articles may include [1] a special pen or stylus, [2] awatch, [3] a wearable device such as, e.g., glasses, a goggle, a lens,an arm band or a head band, each of which may be implemented with anelectrical device, [4] a wearable accessory such as, e.g., a lens, ahat, glasses, a goggle, a head band, an ear plug, a mask, a glove or abelt, or [5] a wearable ornament such as, e.g., an artificialfingernail, a ring, a bracelet, an arm band, a necklace, an earring, apendant or a brooch. Or the user may provide the electromagnetic wavesusing other terminals.

The user may also provide an “image” of a body part (e.g., a face, aneye, an iris, a retina, an ear or a nose) or an “image” of a non-userobject to the input unit, where such images may be provided to the inputunit in a frequency range of the visible electromagnetic waves, UV rays,IR rays, or other electromagnetic waves of specific frequency ranges.The electromagnetic user input may be provided as still images, videoclips, or a combination thereof, When the electromagnetic user input isprovided in the visible wave range, that user input may be regarded asan “optical user input.”

The “electromagnetic user input” may correspond to an image of a user'sbody part, where the image may be acquired by a camera, a CCD (i.e.,charge-coupled device), or other hardware elements of the terminalcapable of acquiring such images. For example, when the hardware elementmay capture [1] the sunlight or light from an illumination device whichis reflected by a body part of the user or [2] the light which isemitted from the terminal but reflected from the body part, such lightsmay be deemed as the image of this paragraph and, therefore, such lightsare also deemed as the electromagnetic user input. In addition, suchlights may be the visible light ways, IR light or UV light, each ofwhich may be provided with or without a color filter, or each of whichmay or may not be polarized.

The electromagnetic user input may also relate to a static feature or adynamic feature of the electromagnetic waves. Examples of suchelectromagnetic user inputs may include a magnitude of such waves, theirphase angle, the phase lag, the wave-length, the frequency or the(scalar or vector) flux. When the electromagnetic user input relates tothe above images, examples of such electromagnetic user inputs mayinclude a color (e.g., its hue, color value or intensity) of suchimages, their contrast, their sizes, figures or substances included insuch images, arrangement of such images or orientation of such images.

As used herein, an “acoustic user input” refers to “acoustic waves”emitted to at least a portion of an input unit capable of receiving theacoustic user input. For example, a user may provide the acoustic wavesby [1] using various non-user objects such as, e.g., a certain pen,various wearable devices, wearable accessories, wearable ornaments orother non-user objects portably which can be worn by a user, or [2]using another terminal. The user may provide the input unit with hisvoice or body sound using his body parts such as, e.g., clapping, fingersnaps, or the like. The user may provide a “non-user sound” to the inputunit, where such sound may be in a range of audible, ultrasonic or otherspecific frequency ranges.

The acoustic user input may also relate to a static feature or a dynamicfeature of the acoustic user input. Examples of this acoustic user inputmay include a magnitude of such a wave, its phase angle, its phase lag,its wave-length, its frequency, or its (scalar or vector) flux. When theacoustic user input relates to the user's voice or body sound, examplesof this acoustic user input may also include a duration, a tone, anenvelope or a location of a source thereof.

In addition to the above, the mechanical, electrical, magnetic,electromagnetic or acoustic user input may also include temporal changesof any of such user inputs such as, e.g., a change in a movement patternover time, a temporal change in an intensity of force exerted to theinput unit over time, or the like. The user input may also includespatial changes of the above user inputs such as, e.g., a change inpositions of contact between the user's body part and an input unit, achange in distribution of force applied to a certain area of an inputunit, or the like.

As used herein, a “user interface” may be abbreviated as a “U/I”hereinafter. Such U/I's may include [1] a graphic U/I, [2] a touch U/I,[3] a text-based U/I, [4] a direct manipulation U/I, [5] a web-basedU/I, [6] a command line U/I, [7] a hardware U/I, [8] a firmware U/I, [9]an attentive U/I, [10] a batch U/I, [11] a conversational U/I, [12] acrossing-based U/I, [13] a gesture U/I, [14] a hologram U/I, [15] amotion-tracking U/I, [16] a multi-screen U/I, or [17] a reflective U/I.The following portion of this disclosure primarily relates to variousexemplary configuration or methods using the graphic U/I or the touchU/I. But such configurations or methods may equally apply to otherterminals which employ other U/Is provided in this paragraph.

As used herein, a “software element” of a terminal collectively refersto an operating system (to be abbreviated as an “O/S”), a (software)application, a computer command, a computer program, and a set ofcomputer programs. As used herein, a “software application” or an “app”is one of the above software elements of a terminal, and refers to acomputer command or a set of computer programs which are specificallydesigned to run a certain operation or to perform a certain function.The app may be driven (or run) by a CPU unit, the O/S or by a differentapp. By driving the app, the user or the terminal may run a certainoperation or perform a certain function. In addition, driving an app mayallow the user or the terminal to drive at least one hardware element ofthe terminal.

The “app” is deemed to not a part of the O/S and, therefore, the “app”is deemed to be different from the O/S throughout this disclosure. Amanufacturer or a distributor of the terminal may download at least oneapp to the terminal before the sale of the terminal. Or a user maydownload at least one app to the terminal after purchase. In addition,the O/S, terminal or an app which is already implemented to the terminalmay download a new app from an external memory device, an externalwebsite, or the like.

4. Detailed Aspects

The No. 1 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app, where asender creates and then transmits a content, where a receiver receivesthe content wirelessly with a data processing terminal which includes adisplay unit, where a sender labels at least one content and transmitsthe labeled content to a receiver while labeling the receiver as alabeled receiver, where a terminal wirelessly receives the content, andwhere the app displays such content on the display unit. The app maydisplay a 1^(st) numeral along with its own app icon on the displayunit, where the 1^(st) numeral may represent the number of unreadcontents which have been received but have not been read or confirmed bythe receiver. The app may display a 2^(nd) numeral along with the appicon and the 1^(st) numeral on the display unit, where the sender haslabeled some unread contents as the labeled contents, where the 2^(nd)numeral may represent the number of such labeled contents, and where the1^(st) numeral may not be less than the 2^(nd) numeral. Therefore, thereceiver may easily find out the number of the unread contents simplyfrom the 1^(st) numeral, and may also easily find out the number of suchlabeled contents (included in the unread contents) simply from the2^(nd) numeral.

The No. 2 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app, where asender creates multiple contents and transmits them to a receiver, wherethe sender may transmit at least one of such contents as a labeledcontent which labels at least one receiver as a labeled receiver, wherethe receiver may wirelessly receive the content using a data processingterminal which includes a display unit, and where the app may displaythe contents on the display unit. In particular, the app may display a1^(st) numeral along with its own app icon on the display unit, wherethe 1^(st) numeral represents a number of the unread contents which havebeen received by a receiver but which have not been read (or confirmed).The app may also display a 2^(nd) numeral along with the app icon andthe 1^(st) numeral on the display unit, where the 2^(nd) numeral whichrepresents the number of such labeled contents which are included insuch unread contents, and where the 1^(st) numeral is not less than the2^(nd) numeral. Accordingly, the receiver may easily find out the numberof such unread contents as well as the number of such labeled contentsincluded in such unread contents, respectively, simply from the 1^(st)numeral and the 2^(nd) numeral.

In the above No. 1 or No. 2 detailed aspects, the app may display the1^(st) numeral or the 2^(nd) numeral inside or around the app icon. Theapp may be implemented (or downloaded) into the terminal, into a serverwhich may communicate with the terminal, or into a cloud storage whichmay communicate with the terminal. The app may display the 1^(st)numeral in a shape, a size, a color, a font, a background, a position oran orientation at least one of which is different from that of the2^(nd) numeral. The app may display the 1^(st) numeral below or on theright side of the 2^(nd) numeral.

The No. 3 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app, where asender creates and transmits a content, where a receiver receives thecontent wirelessly using his data processing terminal which includes adisplay unit, where the sender may label as a labeled content which mayin turn label the receiver as the labeled receiver, and where the appdisplays the content on the display unit when the terminal receives thecontent wirelessly. More particularly, when there exists at least oneunread content which the app has received but which the receiver has notyet confirmed (or read), the app displays an unread icon badge alongwith its own app icon on the display unit. The app may also display the1^(st) numeral along with the app icon on the display unit, where the1^(st) numeral represents the number of such unread contents. When theunread contents includes at least one labeled content, the app may alsodisplay a labeled icon badge along with the unread icon badge on thedisplay unit.

In addition, the app displays the 2^(nd) numeral along with the labeledicon badge on the display unit, where the 2^(nd) numeral represents thenumber of the labeled contents and where the 1^(st) numeral is not lessthan the 2^(nd) numeral. Therefore, the receiver may readily find outthe number of such unread contents and the number of such labeledcontents which are included in such unread contents, respectively,simply from looking at the 1^(st) and 2^(nd) numerals.

The No. 4 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app, where asender creates multiple contents and transmits them to a receiver, wherethe sender may transmit at least one of such contents in the form of alabeled content which may label the receiver as a target for reception,where the sender may receive the content wirelessly using his dataprocessing terminal including a display unit, and where the app maydisplay such contents on the display unit. More particularly, the appmay display an unread icon badge along with its own app icon on thedisplay unit when there exists at least one unread content which hasbeen received by the app but which has not been read by the receiver.The app may also display the 1^(st) numeral along with the unread iconbadge on a display unit, where the 1^(st) numeral may represent thenumber of such unread contents. The app may similarly display a labeledicon badge along with the app icon on the display unit when the unreadcontents may include at least one labeled content. The app may alsodisplay the 2^(nd) numeral along with the labeled icon badge on thedisplay unit, where the 1^(st) numeral is not less than the 2^(nd)numeral and where the 2^(nd) numeral represents the number of thelabeled contents. Accordingly, the receiver may easily find out thenumber of such unread contents from the 1^(st) numeral as well as mayeasily find out the number of the labeled contents included in theunread contents from the 2^(nd) numeral.

In the above No. 3 or No. 4 detailed aspects, the app may display theunread icon badge or the labeled icon badge around or inside the appicon. The app may respectively display the 1^(st) numeral or the 2^(nd)numeral around or inside the unread icon badge or the labeled iconbadge. The app may be implemented (or downloaded) into the terminal,into a server which may communicate with the terminal, or into a cloudstorage which may communicate with the terminal. The app may display the1^(st) numeral in a shape, a size, a background, a color, a font, aposition or an orientation at least one of which may be different fromthat of the 2^(nd) numeral. The app may also display the 1^(st) numeralbelow or on the right side of the 2^(nd) numeral.

The No. 5 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app, where asender may create a 3^(rd) plurality of contents and a 2^(nd) pluralityof label signals, may include such contents into each of a 1^(st)plurality of data packets, and may then transmit such data packets to areceiver, where the 3^(rd) plurality is not less than the 2^(nd)plurality. The sender may also transmit the 2^(nd) plurality of datapackets in the format of the labeled data packets each of which mayinclude the label signal and at least one of such contents, where the1^(st) plurality is not less than the 2^(nd) plurality. When a receiverreceives the 1^(st) plurality of data packets using a data processingterminal with a display unit, the app may display such contents includedin the data packets on the display unit. More particularly, the app maybe implemented (or downloaded) into the terminal of a receiver or into aserver which may receive the 1^(st) plurality of such data packets fromthe sender and which may then transmit such data packets to thereceiver. The app may display the 1^(st) numeral representing the 1^(st)plurality, the 2^(nd) numeral representing the 2^(nd) plurality, and itsown app icon on the display unit. As a result, the receiver may readilyfind out the total number of the data packets received by the receiverfrom the 1^(st) numeral, and may as well find out the number of suchlabeled data packets from the 2^(nd) numeral.

The No. 6 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app, where asender creates a 3^(rd) plurality of contents and a 2^(nd) plurality oflabel signals and transmits a 1^(st) plurality of data packets each ofwhich includes at least one of such contents, where the 3^(rd) pluralityis not less than the 2^(nd) plurality. The sender may transmit the2^(nd) plurality of such data packets to a receiver in the format of alabeled data packet, where each labeled data packet includes the labelsignal and at least one of such contents, and where the 1^(st) pluralityis not less than the 2^(nd) plurality, and where the app may displaysuch contents which are included in the 1^(st) plurality of the datapackets. More particularly, the app may be implemented (or downloaded)into the terminal of a receiver or into a server which may receive the1^(st) plurality of such data packets from the sender and then maytransmit such data packets to the receiver. When the terminal wirelesslyreceives the 1^(st) plurality of the data packets, the app may displaythe contents which are included in such data packets on the displayunit, and may also display the 1^(st) numeral representing the 1^(st)plurality and the 2^(nd) numeral representing the 2^(nd) plurality onthe display unit, along with its own app icon. As a result, the receivermay readily find out the number of all received data packets from the1^(st) numeral, as well as finding out the number of the labeled datapackets from the 2^(nd) numeral.

In the above No. 5 or No. 6 detailed aspects, the app may display the1^(st) or 2^(nd) numeral around or inside the app icon. The app maydisplay the 1^(st) numeral in a shape, a size, a color, a font, abackground, a position or in an orientation at least one of which may bedifferent from that of the 2^(nd) numeral. The app may display the1^(st) numeral below or on the right side of the 2^(nd) numeral.

The No. 7 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app, where asender may create a 3^(rd) plurality of contents and a 2^(nd) pluralityof label signals, and may transmit such contents to a receiver byincluding at least one of such contents into each of a 1^(st) pluralityof data packets, where the 3^(rd) plurality is not less than the 2^(nd)plurality. The sender may transmit the 2^(nd) plurality of data packetsto the receiver in the format of the 2^(nd) plurality of labeled datapackets, where each labeled data packet may include the label signal andat least one of such contents, and where the 1^(st) plurality is notless than the 2^(nd) plurality. When the receiver wirelessly receivesthe 1^(st) plurality of data packets with a data processing terminalincluding a display unit, the app may display such contents included insuch data packets on the display unit. More particularly, the app may beimplemented (or downloaded) into the terminal of the receiver or into aserver which may receive the 1^(st) plurality of data packets and thenmay transmit such data packets to the receiver. When the 1^(st)plurality is not zero (“0”), the app may display an unread icon badgealong with its own app icon on the display unit, and may also displaythe 1^(st) numeral representing the 1^(st) plurality along with theunread icon badge on the display unit. When the 2^(nd) plurality is notzero (“0”), the app may display a labeled icon badge along with theunread icon badge on the display unit, and may also display the 2^(nd)numeral representing the 2^(nd) plurality along with the labeled iconbadge on the display unit. As a result, simply by looking at the 1^(st)numeral or the 2^(nd) numeral, the receiver may easily find out thenumber of all received data packets or the number of the labeled datapackets, respectively.

The No. 8 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app, where asender may create multiple contents and multiple label signals, and maytransmit multiple unread data packets to a receiver, where each unreaddata packet includes at least one of such contents. The sender may alsotransmit at least one of such unread data packets in the format of alabeled data packet to the receiver, where the labeled data packetincludes the content as well as the label signal. When the receiverwireless receives such multiple unread data packets with his dataprocessing terminal which includes a display unit, the app may displaysuch contents included in the unread data packets. More particularly,the app may be implemented (or downloaded) into the terminal of thereceiver or into a server which may receive such data packets from thesender and then may transmit such data packets to the receiver. Uponreceiving the unread data packets, the app may display an unread iconbadge along with its app icon on the display unit. Upon obtaining thenumber of such unread data packets, the app may also display the 1^(st)numeral along with the unread icon badge on the display unit. When thereexists at least one labeled data packet in the unread data packets, theapp may display a labeled icon badge on the display unit. Upon obtainingthe number of such labeled data packets, the app may also display a2^(nd) numeral along with the labeled icon badge on the display unit,where the 2^(nd) numeral represents the number of such labeled datapackets. As a result, just by looking at the 1^(st) or 2^(nd) numeral,the receiver may readily find out the number of all received datapackets or the number of the received labeled data packets.

In the above No. 7 or No. 8 detailed aspects, the app may display theunread icon badge or the labeled icon badge around or inside the appicon. The app may display the 1^(st) (or 2^(nd)) number around or insidethe unread icon badge (or labeled icon badge). The app may display the1^(st) number in a shape, a size, a color, a font, a background, aposition or in an orientation at least one of which may be differentfrom that of the 2^(nd) number. The app may display the 1^(st) numberbelow or on the right side of the 2^(nd) number.

The No. 9 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app, wherethe app is implemented (or downloaded) to a data processing terminalwhich may include a display unit and a reception unit, and where the appextracts a content from a data packet when the reception unit receivesthe data packet. In particular, the app may extract multiple unreadcontents from multiple unread data packets which a receiver has receivedafter the receiver finished running the app and, therefore, the receiverhas not confirmed or read. The app then obtains the number of suchunread contents. When the unread data packet includes the content aswell as a label signal, the app obtains the number regards the contentas a labeled content and obtains the number of such labeled contents.The app may then display its app icon, the 1^(st) numeral whichrepresents the number of such unread contents, and the 2^(nd) numeralwhich represents the number of such labeled contents. As a result, thereceiver may easily find out the number of such unread contents as wellas the number of the labeled contents included in the unread contents,simply from the 1^(st) numeral and the 2^(nd) numeral, respectively. Theapp may directly count (or calculate) the number of such unread contentsor the number of such labeled contents. Alternatively, the app mayreceive such numbers from the server.

The No. 10 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app whichmay be implemented (or downloaded) into a data processing terminalincluding a display unit and a reception unit, and which may extract acontent from a data packet when the reception unit of the terminalreceives the data packet. In particular, the app may extract multipleunread contents from multiple unread data packets which a receiver hasreceived after the receiver finished running the app and, therefore, thereceiver has not confirmed or read. The app then obtains the 1^(st)number of such unread contents. When the unread data packet includes thecontent as well as a label signal, the app regards the content as alabeled content and obtains the 2^(nd) number of such labeled contents.The app may display its app icon, an unread icon badge representing thepresence of such unread contents, the 1^(st) numeral representing the1^(st) number, a labeled icon badge representing the presence of thelabeled contents, and the 2^(nd) numeral representing the 2^(nd) number,on a screen which may be an off screen, a lock screen or an unlockscreen. As a result, the receiver may easily find out the number of suchunread contents as well as the number of the labeled contents includedin the unread contents, simply from the 1^(st) numeral and the 2^(nd)numeral, respectively.

In the above No. 9 or No. 10 detailed aspects, the app may display the1^(st) numeral (or unread icon badge) or the 2^(nd) numeral (or labeledicon badge) around or inside the app icon. The app may display the1^(st) numeral in a shape, a size, a color, a font, a background, aposition or an orientation at least one of which may be different fromthat of the 2^(nd) numeral. The app may directly count the number of theunread data packets or the number of the labeled data packets, or theapp may receive such numbers from the server.

The No. 11 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a dataprocessing terminal including a reception unit, a display unit, and anO/S. More particularly, the reception unit receives multiple 3^(rd) datapackets directed to an app implemented (or downloaded) into theterminal, where each of the 3^(rd) data packets includes a 3^(rd)content but does not include a label signal. The reception unit alsoreceives multiple 2^(nd) data packets directed to the app, where each ofthe 2^(nd) data packets includes a 2^(nd) content and the label signal.The O/S may extract the 3^(rd) or 2^(nd) content respectively from the3^(rd) or 2^(nd) data packet, may respectively count the 3^(rd) numberor 2^(nd) number of such 3^(rd) contents or 2^(nd) contents, and maycalculate the 1^(st) number which is the sum of the 1^(st) and 2^(nd)numbers. The O/S may then display an app icon of the app, the 1^(st)numeral representing the 1^(st) number, and the 2^(nd) numeralrepresenting the 2^(nd) number on the display unit.

The No. 12 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a dataprocessing terminal which includes a reception unit, a display unit, andan O/S. The reception unit receives 3^(rd) multiple contents and 2^(nd)multiple label signals. The O/S may implement (or download) a certainapp to the terminal, may count the 3^(rd) number representing the numberof such contents whenever the reception unit receives the content, maycount the 2^(nd) number representing the number of such label signalswhenever the reception unit receives the label signal, and may count a1^(st) number which is the sum of the 3^(rd) number and the 2^(nd)number. The O/S may display an app icon of the app, and a 1^(st) numeralrepresenting the 1^(st) number, and a 2^(nd) numeral representing the2^(nd) number on the display unit.

In the above No. 11 or No. 12 detailed aspects, the O/S may display the1^(st) numeral or the 2^(nd) numeral around or inside the app icon. TheO/S may display the 1^(st) numeral in a shape, a size, a color, a font,a background, a position or an orientation at least one of which may bedifferent from that of the 2^(nd) numeral. The O/S may display the1^(st) numeral below or on the right side of the 2^(nd) numeral. Or theO/S may display the 2^(nd) numeral along with the 1^(st) numeral and the3^(rd) numeral on the display unit.

The No. 13 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a dataprocessing terminal which includes a reception unit, a display unit, andan O/S, and which may receive a data packet transmitted by a serverusing the reception unit. In particular, the reception unit may receivethe 3^(rd) data packets and the 3^(rd) number directed to a certain appimplemented (or downloaded) into the terminal. Each of the 3^(rd) datapackets may include a 3^(rd) content but may not include a label signal,where the 3^(rd) number represents the number of such 3^(rd) contents.The reception unit may also receive the 2^(nd) data packets and the2^(nd) number directed to the app, where each of the 2^(nd) data packetsmay include a 2^(nd) content and the label signal. The O/S may extractthe 3^(rd) content and the 2^(nd) content respectively from the 3^(rd)data packet and the 2^(nd) data packet. When the O/S obtains the 1^(st)number which is the sum of the 3^(rd) number and the 2^(nd) number, theO/S may display an app icon of the app, the 1^(st) numeral representingthe 1^(st) number, and the 2^(nd) numeral representing the 2^(nd)number.

The No. 14 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a dataprocessing terminal which includes a reception unit, a display unit, andan O/S and which may receive a content transmitted by a server using thereception unit. More particularly, the reception unit may receive 3^(rd)multiple contents a 3^(rd) number representing the number of suchcontents directed to a certain app implemented (or downloaded) to theterminal. The reception unit may receive 2^(nd) multiple label signalsdirected to the app as well as the 2^(nd) number representing the numberof such label signals. The O/S may obtain the 1^(st) number which is thesum of the 3^(rd) number and the 2^(nd) number, and may display an appicon of the app along with the 1^(st) numeral representing the litnumber, and the 2^(nd) numeral representing the 2^(nd) number.

In the above No. 13 or No. 14 detailed aspects, the O/S may display the1^(st) or 2^(nd) numeral around or inside the app icon. The O/S maydisplay the 1^(st) numeral in a shape, a size, a color, a font, abackground, a position or an orientation at least one of which may bedifferent from that of the 2^(nd) numeral. The O/S may display the1^(st) numeral below or on the right side of the 2^(nd) numeral. The O/Smay display the 2^(nd) numeral along with the 3^(rd) and 2^(nd) numeralson the display unit. The O/S may count the 2^(nd) or 1^(st) number, ormay receive the 2^(nd) or 1^(st) numeral from the server.

The No. 15 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a dataprocessing terminal including a display unit and implemented (ordownloaded) with a certain app. The terminal may display an app icon ofthe app, an unread icon badge, and a labeled icon badge on an offscreen, on a lock screen in a lock state, or on a home screen on anunlock state. The app icon is a user interface of the app, and a usermay run the app when the user provides a user input to the userinterface. The unread icon badge may display a number, a substance or atype of unread contents on the display unit, where the terminal hasreceived such unread contents after the user finally terminated runningthe app and, therefore, which the user has not read or confirmed. Thelabeled icon badge may display a number, a substance or a type of theunread labeled contents on the display unit, where the labeled contentis the content which a sender labels the user as the labeled receiver.On the display unit, the terminal may display the unread icon badge orthe labeled icon badge around or inside the app icon.

The No. 16 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a dataprocessing terminal which includes a display unit and which isimplemented or downloaded with at least one app. The terminal maydisplay an app icon of the app, an unread icon badge, and a labeled iconbadge on the display unit, i.e., on an off screen, on a lock screen in alock state or on a home screen in an unlock state. The app icon may be auser interface of the app and, therefore, the terminal may run the appwhen a user provides a user input to the app icon. The unread icon badgemay display a number, a substance or a type of unread contents on thedisplay unit, where the unread contents are the contents which theterminal has received after a user finished running the app and,therefore, which the user has not confirmed or read. The labeled iconbadge may display a number, a substance or a type of unread labeledcontents on the display unit, where the labeled contents are included inthe unread contents. In addition, the terminal may display the unreadicon badge or the labeled icon badge around or inside the app icon.

In the above No. 15 or No. 16 detailed aspects, the substance of thecontent may be a name of a sender, a sender's nickname, a sender's ID, asender's title, a sender's organization, importance of the content, orthe like. The content type may be a text, a symbol, a number, a figure,a still image, a dynamic image, or the like. The terminal may display[1] a numeral representing the number, [2] a symbol or a figurerepresenting the substance, [3] a symbol representing the type, or [4] afigure representing the type on a display unit, while also displaying atleast one of such icon badges. The terminal may display at least one ofsuch icon badges around or inside the app icon. The labeled icon badgemay represent the number of such unread labeled contents, and theterminal may display the number of such labeled contents around orinside the labeled icon badge. The terminal may directly count thenumber of such unread contents or the number of the labeled contents.The server may receive the labeled contents transmitted by the sender,and may then transmit such labeled contents as well as the number ofsuch labeled contents to the terminal. After receiving the number of thelabeled contents, the terminal may display such a number on the displayunit.

The No. 17 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a dataprocessing terminal which includes a display unit and which isimplemented or downloaded with at least one app. More particularly, theterminal may display an app icon of the app on the display unit in anoff state, in a lock state or in an unlock state, where the app icon isa user interface of the app. The terminal may display a 1^(st) numberaround or inside the app icon, where the 1^(st) number represents anumber, a substance or a type of unread contents which the terminal hasreceived after a user finally finished running the app and, therefore,which the user has not confirmed or read. The terminal may display the2^(nd) number representing a number, a substance or a type of certaincontents in a position which is different from that of the 1^(st)number.

The No. 18 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app which isimplemented (or downloaded) into a data processing terminal whichincludes a display unit. More particularly, the app may display an appicon of an app on the display unit in an off state, a lock state or anunlock state, where the app icon is a user interface of the app. The appmay display a 1^(st) number around or inside the app icon, where the1^(st) number represents a number, a substance or a type of contentswhich the app has received after the user terminated running the appand, therefore, which the user has not confirmed or read. The app maydisplay the 2^(nd) number representing a number, a substance or a typeof certain contents in a position which is different from that of the1^(st) number.

In the above No. 17 or No. 18 detailed aspects, the substance of thecontent may be a name of a sender, a sender's nickname, a sender's ID, asender's title, a sender's organization, importance of the content, orthe like. The content type may be a text, a symbol, a number, a figure,a still image, a dynamic image, or the like. The terminal (or app) maydisplay the 1^(st) numeral or the 2^(nd) numeral around or inside theapp icon. The terminal (or app) may directly count the number of suchunread contents or the number of such labeled contents. The server mayreceive such contents transmitted by the sender, and may then transmitsuch contents, the 1^(st) number, and the 2^(nd) number to the terminal(or app). The terminal may then display the 1^(st) number and the 2^(nd)number on the display unit.

The No. 19 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a method ofdisplaying a 1^(st) number and a 2^(nd) number with an app implementedor downloaded into a terminal with a display unit, where the 1^(st)number may represent a number of unread contents which a sender hastransmitted but a receiver has not confirmed or read, and where the2^(nd) number may represent a number of unread labeled contents whichthe sender labeled the user as the labeled receiver. The method mayinclude a receiving step of receiving the unread contents transmitted bythe sender; a 1^(st) number counting step of increasing the 1^(st)number by one (“1”) as receiving the unread content; a label signalconfirming step of confirming whether a label signal is also receivedalong with the unread content; a 2^(nd) number counting step ofincreasing the 2^(nd) number by one (“1”) as receiving the label signal;and a displaying step of displaying the app icon, the 1^(st) number, andthe 2^(nd) number on an off screen, a lock screen or an unlock screen ofthe terminal.

The No. 20 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an appimplemented (or downloaded) into a data processing terminal whichincludes a display unit and, more particularly, relates to a method ofclassifying unread contents into unread labeled contents and unreadunlabeled contents and then displaying a number of unread contents and anumber of labeled contents which are included in such unread contents,where such unread contents are the contents which are received by theapp from a sender but which a receiver has not yet confirmed or read.The method may include a receiving step of receiving data packets whichinclude such unread contents transmitted by the sender, a 1^(st) numbercounting step of increasing the number of the unread contents by one(“1”) upon receiving a new data packet; a label signal confirming stepof confirming whether the data packet includes a label signal; a 2^(nd)number counting step of increasing the 2^(nd) number by one (“1”) uponconfirming the label signal; and a displaying step of displaying an appicon of the app, the 1^(st) number, and the 2^(nd) number on an offscreen, a lock screen or an unlock screen provided on the display unitin the above No. 19 or No. 20 detailed aspects, the 1^(st) numbercounting step or the 2^(nd) number counting step may include aninitialization step of initializing the 1^(st) and 2^(nd) numbers aszero (“0”) after a user finished running the app and before increasingthe 1^(st) and 2^(nd) numbers by one (“1”). The displaying step mayinclude the step of displaying the 1^(st) or 2^(nd) number around orinside the app icon. The displaying step may include the step ofdisplaying the 1^(st) number in a shape, a size, a color, a font, abackground, a position or an orientation at least one of which isdifferent from that of the 2^(nd) number. The receiving step may includethe steps of transmitting such unread contents (or data packetsincluding such unread contents) by the sender to a server; andtransmitting such unread contents (or data packets including such unreadcontents) by the server to the user.

The No. 21 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a dataprocessing terminal which may receive 1^(st) plurality of contents aswell as 2^(nd) plurality of label signals transmitted by a senderthrough a certain app and received by a server, and relates to a methodof displaying a 1^(st) number of such contents and a 2^(nd) number ofsuch label signals on a display unit of a terminal which is implemented(or downloaded) with an app. The method may include a receiving step ofreceiving such contents and label signals from the server; a 1^(st)number counting step of replacing the 1^(st) number by a new numberwhich is greater than the 1^(st) number by one (“1”) upon receiving eachof such contents; a 2^(nd) number counting step of replacing the 2^(nd)number by another new number which is greater than the 2^(nd) number byone (“1”) upon receiving each of such label signals along with thecontents; and a displaying step of displaying an app icon of the app,the 1^(st) number, and the 2^(nd) number on an off screen, a lock screenor an unlock screen provided on the display unit.

The No. 22 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a dataprocessing terminal which may receive a 1^(st) plurality of contents anda 2^(nd) plurality of label signals from a server which in turn hasreceived such contents and label signals from a sender through a certainapp and which has then transmitted such contents and label signals tothe terminal. In particular, this No. 22 detailed aspect relates to amethod of displaying the 1^(st) number of unread contents and the 2^(nd)number of unread labeled contents on a display unit, where the terminalmay include the display unit and may be implemented (or downloaded) withapp, where the terminal may classify the unread contents into the unreadlabeled contents and the unread unlabeled contents, and where the unreadcontents are those contents which the terminal has received from theserver but which the user has not confirmed or read. The method mayinclude a receiving step of receiving such data packets which includesthe unread contents with the terminal from the server; a 1^(st) numbercounting step of increasing the 1^(st) number by one (“1”) whenever theterminal receives the data packet; a label signal confirming step ofchecking whether the data packet includes the label signal; a 2^(nd)number counting step of increasing the 2^(nd) number by one (“1”) asconfirming the label signal; and a displaying step of displaying an appicon of the app, the 1^(st) number, and the 2^(nd) number on an offscreen, a lock screen or an unlock screen provided on the display unit.

In the above No. 21 or No. 22 detailed aspects, the 1^(st) number or2^(nd) number counting step may include an initializing step of settingthe 1^(st) and 2^(nd) numbers as zero (“0”) after the user has stoppedrunning the app and before increasing the 1^(st) and 2^(nd) numbers byone. The displaying step may include the step of displaying the 1^(st)or 2^(nd) number around or inside the app icon. The displaying step mayinclude the step of displaying the 1^(st) number in a shape, a size, acolor, a font, a background, a position or an orientation at least oneof which is different from that of the 2^(nd) number.

The No. 23 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a method ofdisplaying a 1^(st) number and a 2^(nd) number on a display unit of adata processing terminal which includes the display unit and which isimplemented (or downloaded) with a certain app, and which may receive a1^(st) plurality of contents and a 2^(nd) plurality of label signalsfrom a server, where the server has received such contents and labelsignals from a sender through the app, and where the terminal mayreceive such contents, label signals, a 1^(st) number representing thenumber of such contents, and a 2^(nd) number representing the number ofsuch label signals. The method may include a receiving step of receivingsuch contents, label signals, the 1^(st) number, and the 2^(nd) numberwith the terminal from the server; an app icon displaying step ofdisplaying an app icon of the app on an off screen, lock screen orunlock screen of the terminal; and a displaying step of displaying the1^(st) and 2^(nd) numbers around or inside the app icon, where the1^(st) number is not less than the 2^(nd) number.

The No. 24 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a server whichmay receive a 3^(rd) plurality of unlabeled data packets as well as a2^(nd) plurality of labeled data packets both of which have beentransmitted by a sender through a certain app, and also relates to amethod of displaying numbers of contents included in such data packetson a display unit of a data processing terminal which includes thedisplay unit and to which the app is implemented (or downloaded), wherethe terminal may wirelessly communicate with the server, where each ofthe unlabeled data packets includes a content but does not include alabel signal, while each of the labeled data packets includes not only acontent but also a label signal. The method may include a receiving stepof receiving such contents, 3^(rd) number, and 2^(nd) number with theterminal from the server; a 1^(st) number counting step of calculatingthe 1^(st) number as the sum of the 3^(rd) number and the 2^(nd) number;an app icon displaying step of displaying an app icon of the app on anoff screen, a lock screen or an unlock screen; and a displaying step ofdisplaying the 1^(st) number or the 2^(nd) number around or inside theapp icon.

The No. 25 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a server whichmay receive a 3^(rd) plurality of unlabeled data packers as well as a2^(nd) plurality of labeled data packets both of which have beentransmitted by a sender through a certain app, and relates to a methodof displaying numbers of certain contents on a display unit of a dataprocessing terminal which can communicate with the server, which mayinclude the display unit, and into which a certain app is implemented(or downloaded), where each of the unlabeled data packets includes acontent but does not include a label signal, where each of the labeleddata packets includes not only the content but also the label signal,and where the app calculates a 1^(st) number which is the sum of a3^(rd) number of the 3^(rd) plurality and a 2^(nd) number of the 2^(nd)plurality. The method may include a receiving step of receiving thecontents, the 1^(st) number, and the 2^(nd) number from the server usingthe terminal; an app icon displaying step of displaying an app icon ofthe app on an off screen, on a lock screen or on an unlock screen of theterminal; and displaying the 1^(st) number and the 2^(nd) number aroundor inside the app icon.

In the above No. 23 through No. 25 detailed aspects, the displaying stepmay include the step of displaying the 1^(st) number in a shape, a size,a position, a color, a font, a background or an orientation at least oneof which may be different from that of the 2^(nd) number.

The No. 26 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a method ofdisplaying a number of contents received by a certain app which may beimplemented (or downloaded) into a data processing terminal which alsoincludes a display unit. More particularly, the method includes an appicon displaying step of displaying an app icon of the app on an offscreen, a lock screen or an unlock screen of the terminal by the app; a1^(st) number displaying step of displaying the 1^(st) number around orinside the app icon by the app; and a 2^(nd) number displaying step ofdisplaying the 2^(nd) number around or inside the app icon, where the1^(st) number is not less than the 2^(nd) number, and where the app maydisplay the 1^(st) number in a shape, a size, a color, a font, aposition, a background or an orientation at least one of which isdifferent from that of the 2^(nd) number, thereby allowing a user toeasily distinguish one number from another number by simply looking atsuch numbers.

The No. 27 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a method ofrendering a certain app display a 1^(st) number and a 2^(nd) number on adisplay unit of a data processing terminal which includes the displayunit and to which the app is implemented (or downloaded), where the1^(st) number represents a number of 1^(st) contents which the app hasreceived after a user stopped running the app and where the 2^(nd)number represents a number of 2^(nd) contents which are parts of the1^(st) contents. The method may include an app icon displaying step ofdisplaying an app icon of the app on an off screen, a lock screen or anunlock screen provided on the display unit, where the app icon is theuser interface of the app; and a displaying step of displaying the1^(st) number and the 2^(nd) number around or inside the app icon, wherethe 1^(st) number is not less than the 2^(nd) number, and where the appmay display the 1^(st) number in a shape, a size, a color, a font, abackground, a position or an orientation at least one of which isdifferent from that of the 2^(nd) number, thereby allowing the user toeasily distinguish the 1^(st) number from the 2^(nd) number (or viceversa).

It is noted that each of various apps or O/S's of the above detailedaspects as well as various apps or O/S's of various exemplary aspects ofthis disclosure may be regarded as an aggregation of multiple computercommands or instructions. Thus, each app or O/S of the above detailedaspects or exemplary aspects of this disclosure may be regarded toinclude multiple parts for running specific operations, where each ofsuch multiple computer instruction parts may include one or multiplecomputer commands or instructions. When a certain computer instructionpart includes multiple computer commands (or lines), all of multiplecomputer commands may be included in a single portion of the app or O/S,or may be scattered in multiple portions of the app or O/S.

For example, the app of the No. 10 detailed aspect may include multipleparts such as, e.g., a 3^(rd) part for running an operation ofextracting multiple unread contents from multiple unread data packets, a4^(th) part for running an operation of obtaining a 1^(st) number of theunread contents, and the like. Similarly, the O/S of the No. 14 detailedaspect may include multiple parts such as, e.g., a 6^(th) part forrunning an operation of receiving a 3^(rd) plurality of contents relatedto a certain app and receiving a 3^(rd) number which represents thenumber of such contents, a 7^(th) part for obtaining a 1^(st) numberwhich is the sum of the 3^(rd) number and the 2^(nd) number, and thelike.

The No. 28 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app whichmay allow a sender to create and transmit a content, which may beimplemented (or downloaded) to a data processing terminal including adisplay unit, and which may also allow a receiver to receive thecontent. As the app receives contents which the receiver receives afterhe or she had finished running the app most recently and which remainunread, the app may obtain a 1^(st) number of the unread contents, mayclassify the contents into the unlabeled and labeled contents, and mayobtain a 2^(nd) number of the labeled contents. The app may then displayits app icon, a 1^(st) numeral representing the 1^(st) number, and a2^(nd) numeral representing the 2^(nd) number, where the 1^(st) numeralis not less than the 2^(nd) number. The app may display the 1^(st) or2^(nd) numeral in an interior, in an exterior or on an edge of the appicon, Accordingly, the receiver may readily find out the number of theunread contents or the number of the unread labeled contents, simply bylooking at the 1^(st) or 2^(nd) numeral, respectively.

When the app receives the unread content along with the label signal,the app may regard the content as the labeled content. However, when theapp receives the unread content but does not receive the label signal,the app may regard the content as the unlabeled content. The app mayreceive a data packet including the unread content. When the data packetincludes the unread content and the label signal, the app may regard thecontent as the labeled content. However, when the data packet includesthe unread content but does not include any label signal, the app mayregard the content as the unlabeled content.

The No. 29 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app whichmay allow a sender to create and to transmit a content, which may beimplemented (or downloaded) into a data processing terminal whichincludes a display unit, and which may allow a receiver to receive thecontent with his or her terminal. The app may display an app icon whichis a user interface of the app on an off screen, a lock screen or a homescreen of the terminal. Upon receiving a content after the receiver hasterminated running the app most recently, the content has not been readby the receiver. The app may then display an unread icon badge on thedisplay unit, may count a 1^(st) number of such unread contents, and maydisplay the 1^(st) numeral representing the 1^(st) number, by attachingthe 1^(st) numeral to the unread icon badge. As the app receives anunread content along with a label signal, the app may classify thecontent as a labeled content and may display a labeled icon badge on thedisplay unit. As the app receives the labeled content, the app may counta 2^(nd) number, and may then display the 2^(nd) numeral representingthe 2^(nd) number, by attaching the 2^(nd) numeral to the labeled iconbadge, where the 1^(st) number is not less than the 2^(nd) number.Accordingly, the receiver may easily find out the number of the unreadcontents or the number of the labeled contents simply by looking at the1^(st) or 2^(nd) numeral, respectively.

The No. 30 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a server whichmay receive a content created by a sender through a certain app, and maytransmit the content to a data processing terminal of a receiver throughthe app. The server may regard a content which it may receive from thesender after the receiver has terminated the app most recently as anunread content. The server may count a 1^(st) number of such unreadcontent as the server receives the unread content. When the serverreceives the unread content as well as a label signal, the server mayclassify the content as a labeled content, and may count a 2^(nd) numberof such labeled contents as the server receives the labeled content. Theserver may also transmit the unread contents, the 1^(st) number, and the2^(nd) number to the terminal of the receiver. As a result, the terminalmay display an app icon of the app, a 1^(st) numeral representing the1^(st) number, and a 2^(nd) numeral representing the 2^(nd) number,thereby allowing the receiver to easily find out the number of suchunread contents or the number of such labeled contents, simply bylooking at the 1^(st) or 2^(nd) numeral, respectively.

The No. 31 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app whichmay be implemented (or downloaded) into a data processing terminal andwhich may allow a receiver to receive a content which is transmitted bya sender, where the terminal includes a display unit. The app mayinclude at least five computer instruction parts. The first computerinstruction part may receive contents which have been received after areceiver stopped running the app and, therefore, which have not beenread by the receiver. The second computer instruction part may obtain afirst number of the unread contents. The third computer instruction partmay classify such unread contents into unlabeled contents and labeledcontents, and may also obtain a second number of such labeled contents.The fourth computer instruction part may display an app icon of the app,a first numeral representing the first number, and a second numeral forrepresenting the second number on the display unit, where the firstnumber is not less than the second number. The fifth computerinstruction part for may display the first and second numbers in aninterior, in an exterior or on an edge of the app icon. As a result, thereceiver may easily find out the number of such unread contents and thenumber of such labeled contents based only on the first numeral and thesecond numeral, respectively.

In the No. 31 detailed aspect, the second computer instruction part mayclassify the content as the labeled content when the app may receive thecontent together with a label signal. However, the second computerinstruction part may classify the content as the unread content when theapp receives the content but does not receive the label signal. The appmay receive a data packet which includes the unread content, where thesecond computer instruction part classifies the content as the labeledcontent when the data packet includes the content as well as a labelsignal. But the second computer instruction part may classify thecontent as the unread content when the data packet includes the contentbut does not include the label signal. The fifth computer instructionpart may display the first numeral in a shape, a size, a color, a font,a position, a background, or an orientation at least one of which may bedifferent from that of the second numeral. The fifth computerinstruction part may display the app icon, first numeral, and secondnumeral simultaneously (or at the same time). In contrary, the fifthcomputer instruction part may display at least two of the app icon,first numeral, and said second numeral not simultaneously butconsecutively. The fifth computer instruction part may display thesecond numeral as “0” when such unread contents do not include thelabeled content. The fifth computer instruction part may display atleast one of the app icon, first numeral, and second numeral on an offscreen in an off state of the terminal, a lock screen in a lock state ofthe terminal, or a home screen in an unlock state of the terminal. Thethird computer instruction part may classify the contents into theunlabeled content and labeled content based on a substance included inthe contents.

The No. 32 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app whichmay be implemented to a data processing terminal with a display unit andwhich may allow a receiver to receive a content transmitted by a senderwith the terminal. The app may also include multiple computerinstruction parts. The first computer instruction part may display anapp icon of the app on one of an off screen, a lock screen, or a homescreen of the terminal, wherein the app icon may be a user interface ofthe app. The second computer instruction part may display an unread iconbadge on the display unit when the app receives a content after thereceiver stopped running the app and, as a result, the receiver has notread the content. The third computer instruction part may count a firstnumber of the unread contents as the app receives such unread contents.The fourth computer instruction part may display a first numeralrepresenting the first number, and may display the first numeral byattaching the first numeral to the unread icon badge. The fifth computerinstruction part may display a labeled icon badge on the display unitwhen the app receives the content with a label signal while classifyingthe content as a labeled content. The sixth computer instruction partmay also count a second number of the labeled contents as the appreceives the labeled contents, and may display a second numeralrepresenting the second number while attaching the second numeral to thelabeled icon badge, where the first number is not less than the secondnumber. Thus, the receiver may easily find out the number of such unreadcontents and the number of such labeled contents, simply based on thefirst numeral and the second numeral, respectively.

In the No. 32 detailed aspect, the fourth computer instruction part maydisplay the first numeral in an interior, in an exterior, on an edge ofthe unread icon badge, or the like. The sixth computer instruction partmay display the second numeral in an interior, in an exterior, or on anedge of the labeled icon badge or an app icon. The app may also displaythe unread icon badge in a shape, a size, a color, a font, a position, abackground, and an orientation at least one of which is different fromthat of the labeled icon badge. The app may display the first numeral ina shape, a size, a color, a font, a position, a background, or anorientation at least one of which may be different from that of thesecond numeral. The app may display the app icon, unread icon badge, andlabeled icon badge simultaneously (e.g., at the same time orconsecutively. The app may also display the app icon, first numeral, andsecond numeral simultaneously (e.g., at the same time) or consecutively.

The No. 33 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to a server whichmay receive a content created by a sender through a certain app andwhich may transmit the content to a receiver's data processing terminalthrough the app. The server may include multiple computer instructionparts. The first computer instruction part may identify a content whichthe server receives after the receiver stopped running the app as anunread content. As the server receives a new unread content, the secondcomputer instruction part may count a number of such unread contents asa first number. But when a server receives a content along with a labelsignal, the third computer instruction part may identify a content as alabeled content. When the server receives the new labeled content, thefourth computer instruction part may count a number of such labeledcontents as a second number. The fifth computer instruction part maytransmit the unread content, the first number, and the second number tothe terminal of the receiver. Therefore, the terminal may then displayan app icon of the app, a first numeral which represents the firstnumber, and a second numeral which represents the second number, and thereceiver may easily find out the number of such unread contents and thenumber of such labeled contents.

In the No. 33 detailed aspect, the server may receive a data packetincluding a content. When the data packet includes the content and thelabel signal, the server may identify the content as the labeledcontent. However, when the data packet includes a content but does notinclude a label signal, the server may identify the content as theunread content. The server may set the second number as “0” when suchunread contents do not include any labeled content.

The No. 34 detailed aspect of this disclosure relates to an app systemwhich may include at least one server, hardware element, softwareelement, and app. More particularly, the app system may also include anapp implemented to a data processing terminal of a sender of a content(i.e., a “transmitting app”) as well as another app implemented toanother data processing terminal of a receiver of the content (i.e., a“receiving app”). The server of the app system may receive a contentwhich is created by a sender with the terminal of the sender and whichis transmitted by the transmitting app. The server of the app system maythen transmit the content to the receiving app of a terminal of thereceiver.

The server or the receiving app of the app system may display the appicon and the first numeral on the display unit of the terminal of thereceiver, where the first numeral represents the number of unreadcontents which have been received after the receiver stopped running theapp most recently and, therefore, which have not been confirmed by thereceiver. The server or the receiving app of the app system may thesecond numeral along with the app icon and the first numeral on thedisplay unit, where the second numeral represents the number of thelabeled contents, where the sender labels the receiver as the labeledreceiver of such labeled contents, and where the first number is notless than the second number. As a result, the receiver may readily findout the number of such unread contents as well as the number of suchlabeled contents, simply by looking at the first and second numerals,respectively.

In the No. 34 detailed aspect, the app system may create or use thenumber of unread contents, the number of unread labeled contents, theunread icon badges or the labeled icon badges in various configurationsor methods as explained in the above detailed aspects or in variousexemplary aspects, their embodiments or their examples. It is noted,however, that such servers, apps implemented to the terminal of thesender (i.e., the transmitting app), and apps implemented to theterminal of the receiver (i.e., the receiving app) are to be regarded asthe hardware or software elements of the app system.

5. Miscellaneous

Unless otherwise specified in this disclosure, all technical orscientific terms used carry the same meaning as commonly understood byone having ordinary skill in the relevant art to which [1] various dataprocessing terminals, [2] various contents which can be created by,transmitted by, received by or stored in such terminals, [3] variousdata packets which can include such contents, or [4] various labeledicon badges which can represent a number or a type of the unread labeledcontents.

Followings explain various configurations, methods or operationalsequences of exemplary terminals, contents, data packets or labeled iconbadges. In order to embody such configurations, methods or operationalsequences of such terminals, contents, data packets or labeled iconbadges, various aspects, embodiments or examples of this disclosure maybe replaced by similar aspects, embodiments or examples or may bereplaced by equivalent aspects, equivalent embodiments or equivalentexamples.

It is to be understood that all publications, patent applications,patents, or other references mentioned herein are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the definitions andexplanations provided in this disclosure will control. In addition,various configurations, methods or operational sequences related tovarious terminals, contents, data packets or labeled icon badgesdescribed herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limitingthe scope of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows exemplary user interfaces and prior art unread icon badgesfor such interfaces which are displayed on a display unit of a dataprocessing terminal;

FIG. 1B shows an exemplary prior art unread icon badge;

FIG. 2A shows multiple groups and exemplary unread icon badges for suchgroups which a certain app displays on a display unit when a user runsthe app;

FIG. 2B shows an exemplary content window of the app of FIG. 2Adisplaying contents which have been exchanged between members of acertain group on a display unit;

FIGS. 3A to 3G show exemplary configurations and arrangements of variousunread icon badges and labeled icon badges;

FIGS. 4A to 4H show exemplary configurations and arrangements of variousunread icon badges and labeled icon badges when unread contents do notinclude any labeled content;

FIGS. 5A to 5D show exemplary configurations and arrangements of variouslabeled icon badges created by varying various features of the unreadicon badges;

FIGS. 6A to 6D show exemplary configurations and methods of selecting alabeled receiver by manipulating or touching a hard keyboard or a softkeyboard;

FIGS. 6E to 6K show exemplary configurations and methods of selecting alabeled receiver using a member list of a certain group;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show exemplary configurations and methods for a terminalto select a labeled receiver even when a sender does not actively createa label signal;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show exemplary configurations and methods of selectivelydisplaying the labeled contents on a display unit;

FIGS. 9A and 9B show exemplary configurations and methods of applyingthe label signal, the labeled content, and the labeled icon badge to ascheduling app;

FIGS. 9C and 9D show exemplary configurations and methods of applyingthe label signal, the labeled content, and the labeled icon badge to anad displaying app;

FIGS. 9E and 9F show exemplary configurations and methods of applyingthe label signal, the labeled content, and the labeled icon badge to anevent notifying app;

FIGS. 9G and 9H show exemplary configurations or methods of applying thelabel signal, the labeled content, and the labeled icon badge to avehicle control app;

FIGS. 9I and 9J show exemplary configurations and methods of applyingthe label signal, the labeled content, and the labeled icon badge to aninternet-of-things control app;

FIGS. 9K and 9L show exemplary configurations and methods of applyingthe label signal, the labeled content, and the labeled icon badge to arobot control app;

FIGS. 9M and 9N show exemplary configurations or methods of applying thelabel signal, the labeled content, and the labeled icon badge to ahealth management app;

FIG. 10A shows an exemplary configuration and methods of displaying iconbadges when a display unit is turned off (i.e., an off state);

FIG. 10B shows an exemplary configurations and methods of displayingvarious icon badges when a lock screen is displayed on a display unit;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show exemplary configurations and methods ofdisplaying labeled and unlabeled icon badges;

FIGS. 11C and 11D show exemplary configurations and methods ofdisplaying groups of different icon badges for multiple apps indifferent locations on a display unit;

FIGS. 11E and 11F show exemplary configurations and methods of applyinglabeled signals, labeled contents, labeled data packets, and labeledicon badges to apps operating through a network; and

FIGS. 12A to 12C show exemplary source codes of counting a number ofunread or labeled contents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed hereinafter provides explanations of exemplary configurations,methods or operational sequences of various data processing terminals ofthis disclosure, various labeled contents, various labeled data packets,and various labeled icon badges. More specifically, this disclosureprovides exemplary configurational or operational features of suchterminals, labeled contents, labeled data packets or labeled iconbadges. This disclosure exemplifies various methods of manufacturing orusing such terminals, labeled contents, labeled data packets, andlabeled icon badges. This disclosure also exemplifies various hardwareelements or software elements related to the terminals, labeledcontents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges. This disclosurefurther exemplifies various methods of driving such hardware or softwareelements.

It is to be understood that this disclosure is provided with referenceto accompanying drawings and with reference to text, in which suchexemplary aspects, embodiments or examples only represent differentforms. However, various configurational or operational features of suchterminals, labeled contents, labeled data packets, or labeled iconbadges, various methods of fabricating or using the terminals, labeledcontents, labeled data packets, or labeled icon badges may also beembodied in many other different configurations, structures, methods,processes, or sequences in such a way that they should not be limited tovarious exemplary aspects and embodiments as set forth hereinabove andhereinafter. Rather, such exemplary aspects, embodiments or examplesdescribed herein are provided such that this disclosure will be thoroughand complete, and fully convey the scope of configurational features,operational features, and various methods of fabricating or using suchterminals, labeled contents, labeled data packets, and labeled iconbadges, to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Unless otherwise specified and for simplicity of illustration, varioussystems, units, elements, portions or parts of various data processingterminals may not typically be drawn to proportions or scales in theaccompanying figures for ease of illustration. It is to be understoodthat such systems, units, elements, portions, or parts of the dataprocessing terminals as well as their operations, steps, and sequencesdesignated by the same numerals in the accompanying figures representthe identical, similar or functionally equivalent systems, units,elements, portions, parts, operations, steps, and sequences,respectively.

Reference is made to accompanying drawings which show, by way ofillustration, various exemplary aspects, embodiments or examples inwhich various data processing terminals may be constructed and used andin which various labeled contents, labeled data packets or labeled iconbadges may be created, transmitted, received, displayed or otherwiseutilized. It is noted that numerals appearing between parentheses “(”and “)” such as (10) or (60) in this disclosure, represent such systems,units, elements, portions, screens or sequences which appear in thedrawings.

It is noted that various exemplary aspects, embodiments or examples ofsuch data processing terminals, labeled contents, labeled data packetsor labeled icon badges of this disclosure, although different, are notnecessarily mutually exclusive unless otherwise specified. That is, aparticular feature, structure, operation, function, method, operationalsequence or characteristic of various terminals, labeled contents,labeled data packets or labeled icon badges described herein inconnection with one exemplary aspect or embodiment may also beimplemented into those terminals, labeled contents, labeled data packetsor labeled icon badges of another exemplary aspect or embodiment of thisdisclosure, as long as [1] they may not conflict each other, [2] theymay not depart from a spirit and a scope of such terminals, labeledcontents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges. When necessary,however, depending upon detailed context of the disclosure, at least apart of the above feature, structure, operation, function, method,operational sequence or characteristic of various terminals, labeledcontents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges may be [1]modified, [2] omitted, or [3] added with a different part.

It is also appreciated that an arrangement or a position of each system,unit, element, portion, or part of various exemplary aspects orembodiments of this disclosure may also be modified to certain extentswithout departing from the spirits and scopes of other exemplaryterminals of this disclosure. Therefore, the following detaileddescription exemplifies various operations which may allow a user toeasily confirm or distinguish contents specifically transmitted tohimself. The following detailed description relates to various terminalswhich can provide various labeled contents, labeled data packets orlabeled icon badges and, therefore, is not to be taken to limit thescope of various terminals, labeled contents, labeled data packets orlabeled icon badges.

The scope of such terminals, labeled content, labeled data packet orlabeled icon badge and methods related to such terminals, labeledcontent, labeled data packet and labeled icon badge are to be definedonly by appended claims that should be appropriately interpreted in afull range of equivalent terminals, equivalent labeled content,equivalent labeled data packet, and equivalent labeled icon badges. Inthe drawings, like reference numerals identify like or similar elementsor functions in different views.

Exemplary aspects, embodiments, and examples of various data processingterminals, labeled contents, labeled data packets as well as labeledicon badges of this disclosure will now be explained in detailhereinafter, in both the hardware and software perspectives and withreference to the accompanying drawings. As a result, one skilled in therelevant art can easily understand, fabricate, and use such dataprocessing terminals, labeled contents, labeled data packets, andlabeled icon badges. In addition, those skilled in the relevant art canmanufacture such terminals, labeled contents, labeled data packets, andlabeled icon badges, and can perform various operations or steps invarious sequences.

1. Displaying Labeled Icon Badges and Unread Icon Badges

The first exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to displaying anunread icon badge for a certain application (to be abbreviated as an“app” hereinafter) together with a labeled icon badge. For example, aterminal may display on its display unit an unread icon badge for unreadcontents and a labeled icon badge for labeled contents which areincluded in the unread contents. Therefore, a user may readily confirm anumber of the unread contents from a numeral displayed in the unreadicon badge as well as confirm a number of the labeled contents which areincluded in the unread contents from a numeral of the labeled iconbadge. In addition, the terminal may display the unread icon badge andthe labeled icon badge around or inside an app icon which represent theapp, thereby allowing a user to readily confirm which badge correspondsto which app.

The terminal may display a numeral (to be abbreviated as “N_(UR)”hereinafter) with the unread icon badge in order to represent a numberof the unread contents, and may display another numeral (to beabbreviated as “N_(LB)” hereinafter) with the labeled icon badge inorder to represent a number of the (unread) labeled contents. Theterminal may also display the N_(UR) and N_(LB) [1] in the same orsimilar font, size, shape, color, background or orientation, or [2] indifferent fonts, sizes, shapes, colors, backgrounds or orientations.

The terminal may display the labeled icon badge and unread icon badgeinside or around the app icon. For simplicity of illustration, as far asthe labeled icon badge and unread icon badge are concerned, the terminalmay display the labeled icon badge [1] on the right or left side of theunread icon badge, [2] above or below the unread icon badge, or [3]inside or outside the unread icon badge. However, when a size of thelabeled icon badge is greater than a size of the unread icon badge, theterminal may display the unread icon badge inside the labeled iconbadge. Alternatively, the terminal may display the labeled icon badgeand unread icon badge in a symmetric arrangement with respect to acertain point (i.e., a point symmetry) or a certain line (i.e., a linesymmetry) of the app icon. Or the terminal may display the labeled iconbadge and unread icon badge in an asymmetric arrangement.

The terminal may display the labeled icon badge and unread icon badge[1] by manipulating at least portions of such badges to overlap eachother, [2] by manipulating at least portions of such badges to contactbut to not overlap each other, or [3] by separating the badges by acertain distance. When one of the labeled icon badge and unread iconbadge is displayed inside the other, the terminal may display [1] suchbadges in a circular (or polygonal) concentric arrangement, [2] suchbadges in a non-concentric arrangement, [3] such badges at leastportions of which may overlap each other, [4] such badges at leastportions of which may contact but not overlap each other, or [5] badgeswhich are separated by a certain distance.

As discussed above, the unread contents of this disclosure may includeboth of the unread unlabeled contents and the unread labeled contents.Accordingly, the numeral of the unread icon badge (i.e., N_(UR)) isalways greater than or equal to the numeral of the labeled icon badge(i.e., N_(LB)). FIGS. 3A to 3G exemplify various configurations orarrangements of such unread icon badges and labeled icon badges.

In the first exemplary embodiment of this first exemplary aspect, aterminal may display an unread icon badge as well as a labeled iconbadge together on a display unit. FIGS. 3A to 3C exemplify variousconfigurations or arrangements of various unread icon badges and labeledicon badges at least one of which is disposed around an app icon. Forexample, the terminal of FIG. 3A may display the unread icon badge(21)and the labeled icon badge(23) together on the right (of left) side, orabove (or below) the app icon(20). Alternatively, the terminal of FIG.3B may display the unread icon badge(21) and the labeled icon badge(23)on the opposite sides of the app icon(20). Or the terminal of FIG. 3Cmay display the unread icon badge(21) and the labeled icon badge(23) ondifferent but not opposite sides of the app icon(20).

The terminal may display the unread icon badge and labeled icon badge,while manipulating at least one of the badges [1] to overlap an edge ofthe app icon, or [2] outside the app icon, i.e., separating at least oneof the badges from the app icon by a certain distance. The terminal mayalso display the unread icon badge and labeled icon badge, whilemanipulating such badges [1] to overlap at least portions of each other,[2] to contact but not to overlap such portions, or [3] to be separatedfrom each other by a certain distance.

In the second exemplary embodiment of this first exemplary aspect, aterminal may display one of the unread and labeled icon badges aroundthe app icon, but the other of such badges inside the app icon. FIG. 3Dexemplifies a different configuration or arrangement of a labeled iconbadge and an unread icon badge. For example, the terminal of FIG. 3Ddisplays the unread icon badge(21) around the app icon(20) but thelabeled icon badge inside the app icon(20). Alternatively, the terminalmay display the unread icon badge inside the app icon, while displayingthe labeled icon badge around the app icon.

The terminal may display the unread icon badge and the labeled iconbadge, while positioning an entire (or only a) portion of at least oneof such badges inside the app icon. Or the terminal may display theunread icon badge and the labeled icon badge, while manipulating atleast one of the badges [1] to overlap at least portions of each other,[2] to contact but not to overlap at least portions of each other, or[3] to be spaced away from each other by a certain distance.

In the third exemplary embodiment of this first exemplary aspect, aterminal may also display an unread icon badge and a labeled icon badgeinside an app icon. FIG. 3E exemplifies another configuration orarrangement of an unread icon badge and a labeled icon badge. Theterminal may divide an interior of an app icon(20) vertically, displaythe unread icon badge(21) in the lower portion, and display the labeledicon badge(23) in the upper portion. In contrary to FIG. 3E, theterminal may display one of the unread and labeled icon badges to have asize bigger than at least one half of the size of app icon, or maydisplay each of both badges to have a size which is less than at leastone half of the size of the app icon. The terminal may display theunread icon badge and labeled icon badge, while manipulating at leastone of the badges [1] to overlap at least portions of each other, [2] tocontact but not to overlap at least portions of each other, or [3] to beseparated away from each other by a certain distance.

In the fourth exemplary embodiment of this first exemplary aspect, aterminal may display the unread icon badge and the labeled icon badge ina complete overlapping arrangement, i.e., a terminal displays one ofsuch badges inside the other badge. FIG. 3F exemplifies anotherconfiguration or arrangement of the unread and labeled icon badges,where the terminal displays the labeled icon badge(23) inside the unreadicon badge(21), while positioning both badges(21)(23) around the appicon(20). In addition, the terminal displays the entire portion of thelabeled icon badge(23) inside the unread icon badge(21), while bothbadges(21)(23) contact each other on the top portion. As a result, thecenters of such badges(21)(23) may not coincide each other.

In contrary, the terminal may display the unread icon badge and labeledicon badge in a concentric circular (or polygonal) arrangement therebyrendering the centers of such badges(21)(23) coincide with each other.In addition, the terminal may display [1] an entire portion of at leastone of the unread and labeled badges inside an app icon, [2] at least aportion of at least one of such badges inside the app icon, or [3]entire portions of such badges outside the app icon. Or the terminal maydisplay the unread and labeled icon badges(21)(23) in such a way that[1] at least portions of edges of both badges may overlap each other,[2] at least portions of the badges contact but not overlap each other,or [3] both badges are separated from each other by a certain distance.

In the fifth exemplary embodiment of this first exemplary aspect, aterminal may display the unread icon badge and labeled icon badge in acertain distance from each other. FIG. 3G exemplifies a configuration orarrangement of such badges, where the terminal displays the unread iconbadge(21) around the app icon(20), while displaying the labeled iconbadge(23) away from the unread icon badge(21) by a certain distance. Inthis case, the terminal may display the labeled icon badge(23) on aleft, right side, upper or lower portion of the display unit. Whenmultiple apps may be implemented, the terminal may display all of thelabeled icon badges for such multiple apps in a certain location on thedisplay unit. Therefore, a user may readily observe the labeled iconbadges selectively clustered on the certain position on the displayunit, thereby easily confirming which app has received the labeledcontents.

The terminal may instead display the labeled icon badge around or insidethe app icon, while the terminal may display [1] multiple (or all)unread icon badges of multiple (or all) apps in a certain location ofthe display unit, or [2] multiple (or all) unlabeled icon badges of suchapps in the certain location. Or the terminal may display multiple (orall) unread icon badges in a first location on the display unit, but maydisplay multiple (or all) labeled icon badges in a second location onthe display unit.

The above terminals, labeled contents, and labeled icon badges of thefirst exemplary aspect may also be varied or modified in variousconfigurations or methods. Followings are various examples of suchmodifications or variations, where such modifications or variations [1]may be applied to modify or vary various embodiments or examples of thisfirst exemplary aspect, or [2] may be applied to modify or varydifferent embodiments or examples of different exemplary aspectsdescribed hereinabove or hereinafter.

The first example of such modifications or variations of this firstexemplary aspect relates to using an unlabeled icon badge instead of anunread icon badge. That is, instead of displaying the unread icon badgealong with the labeled icon badge which represents a number or a type ofthe labeled contents included in the unread contents, a terminal maydisplay the labeled icon badge along with au unlabeled icon badge whichmay in turn represent a number or a type of the unlabeled contentsincluded in the unread contents. In such a case, a sum of a firstnumeral (for the labeled icon badge) and a second numeral (for theunlabeled icon badge) may be the same as a numeral for the unread iconbadge.

The second example of such modifications or variations of this firstexemplary aspect relates [1] to representing a number of such labeledcontents as well as a substance or a type of the labeled contents withthe labeled icon badge or [2] to representing a substance or a type (butnot a number) of the labeled contents with the labeled icon badge. Ingeneral, a “substance of a content” refers to various information suchas, e.g., information related to a sender of the content (e.g., a name,a nickname or an ID of the sender), other information related to asender of the content (e.g., a rank, an organization, a sex, an age, anationality, physical characteristics, or other personal information),other information related to the content (e.g., a size, a date or timeof creation, or a date or time of transmission, or a storage location),or importance of the content in the perspective of a receiver or asender (e.g., extremely important, important, less important, notimportant or a spam). In general, a “type of a content” refers tovarious information related to a structure of the content such as, e.g.,a datum, a file or a folder which may include a text, a symbol, anumber, a figure, a still image, a dynamic image (e.g., a video clip), asound, and the like.

Alternatively, the terminal may display the unread icon badge and thelabeled icon badge in different periods of time. For example, when theuser may be more interested in the number of the labeled contents, theterminal may [1] continuously display the labeled icon badge but blinkthe unread icon badge, [2] blink both the unread and labeled icon badgesbut may blink the labeled icon badge faster (or slower), or [3]continuously display the unread icon badge but blink the labeled iconbadge in such a manner to attract the user's attention.

The third example of such modifications or variations of this firstexemplary aspect relates to displaying an unread icon badge along with alabeled icon badge. For example, the terminal may display [1] the unreadicon badge and the labeled icon badge at the same time (i.e., temporallysimultaneously), [2] the unread icon badge and the labeled icon badge(temporally) sequentially, or [3] the unread icon badge and the labeledicon badge (temporally) sequentially, with at least one temporal overlapbetween displaying such badges or with at least one temporal gap betweendisplaying such badges.

The fourth example of such modifications or variations of this firstexemplary aspect relates to combining the first to fourth embodiment ofthe first exemplary aspect and to modifying or varying the firstexemplary aspect. For example, the terminal may display a number of(unread) labeled contents using the labeled icon badge. However, when auser provides another user input, the terminal may then display asubstance of the (unread) labeled contents.

In the second exemplary aspect of this disclosure, a terminal maydisplay an unread icon badge along with a labeled icon badge when theunread contents do not include any labeled contents. For example, whenthe unread contents do not include any labeled contents, a terminal maydisplay the unread icon badge (for the unread contents) along with thelabeled icon badge (for the labeled contents). That is, employingvarious configurations or methods, the terminal may inform the user ofthe fact that the unread contents do not include any labeled contents.

For example, a terminal may represent a number of the unread contentswith a numeral of the unread icon badge, but the terminal may alsorepresent that a number of the labeled contents is “0” with a numeral ofthe labeled icon badge in many different ways. To this end, the terminalmay display a numeral for the unread icon badge (to be abbreviated asthe “N_(UR)”) and another numeral for the labeled icon badge (to beabbreviated as “N_(LB)”) [1] in the same or similar font, size,thickness, shape, color, background or orientation, or [2] differentfonts, sizes, thicknesses, shapes, colors, backgrounds or orientations.As described hereinabove, the labeled icon badge for the unread contentswhich include no labeled content is abbreviated as the “labeled iconbadge₍₀₎,” whereas the labeled icon badge for the unread contents whichinclude at least one labeled content is to be abbreviated as the“labeled icon badge_((N)).”

In addition and similar to the above first exemplary aspect, a terminalmay display the labeled icon badge₍₀₎ [1] on the left or right side ofthe unread icon badge, [2] above or below the unread icon badge, [3]inside or outside the unread icon badge, or [4] in a line symmetry, in apoint symmetry, or in an asymmetric arrangement. In this case, theterminal may display the labeled and unread icon badges such that [1]such badges may overlap at least portions of each other, [2] such badgesmay contact but not overlap at least portions of each other, or [3] suchbadges may be separated by a certain distance.

Therefore, a user may easily learn that the unread contents of a certainapp may not include any (unread) labeled contents. In response thereto,the user [1] may neither run the app nor confirm the unread contents ofthe app, or [2] may run the app and confirm the (unread) unlabeledcontents. FIGS. 4A to 4H exemplify various configurations andarrangements of the unread icon badges and the labeled icon badges whenthe unread contents do not include any labeled contents.

In the first exemplary embodiment of this second exemplary aspect andwhen the unread contents do not include any labeled contents, a terminalmay use a numeral (N_(LB)) for the labeled icon badge as “0” and maydisplay N_(LB) (i.e., “0”) along with the unread icon badge for theunread contents. FIGS. 4A to 4C exemplify various configurations orarrangements of the unread icon badges and the labeled icon badges whenthe unread contents do not include any labeled contents, where theterminal displays the numeral “0” with the labeled icon badge₍₀₎exemplified in various embodiments or examples (e.g., FIGS. 3A to 3G) ofthe first exemplary aspect. Accordingly, the user may readily andvisually confirm that no labeled contents have been received. Morespecifically, FIG. 4A shows the labeled icon badge of FIG. 3A along withthe numeral “0,” FIG. 4B shows the labeled icon badge of FIG. 3E alongwith the numeral “0,” and FIG. 4C shows the labeled icon badge of FIG.3F along with the numeral “0.”

The terminal may also display the numeral “0” in various methods. Forexample, the terminal may emphasize that a number of (unread) labeledcontents in the unread contents is “0 (i.e., N_(LB))” [1] by displayingN_(LB) bigger, brighter or darker than the unread icon badge or itsnumeral (N_(UL)), [2] by displaying N_(LB) while rotating N_(LB) (withrespect to a certain axis of rotation), shaking N_(LB) (in a lateraldirection or in a vertical direction) or otherwise moving N_(LB), [3] bychanging the size of N_(LB), [4] by changing the shape of N_(LB), [5] bychanging the color, brightness or transparency of N_(LB), or [6] byperforming the manipulations of the [1] to [3] of this paragraph onto acertain portion of N_(LB), onto an edge of N_(LB) or onto a backgroundof N_(LB). In the alternative, the terminal may inform a user that hehas not received any labeled contents which he has to ungently confirm,because the unread contents do not include any labeled contents anyway.To this end, the terminal may display the numeral N_(LB) (i.e., “0”)smaller, darker or thinner than the unread icon badge or a numeral(i.e., N_(UL)) of the unread icon badge, or in other un-emphasizing (orun-highlighting) configuration.

In the second exemplary embodiment of this second exemplary aspect, aterminal may display the unread icon badge (for such unread contents)along with the labeled icon badge₍₀₎ even when no labeled contents areincluded in the unread contents. However, the terminal may not displayany numeral for the labeled icon badge₍₀₎. To this end, a terminal maydisplay various labeled icon badges exemplified in the embodiments orexamples of the first aspect (i.e., FIGS. 3A to 3G), while displayingonly traces of the labeled icon badges₍₀₎ but not displaying anynumerals for the labeled icon badges₍₀₎. FIG. 4D exemplifies theconfiguration or the arrangement similar to that of FIG. 3A, where aterminal displays the unread icon badge(21) in the lower right region ofthe app icon(20) and the labeled icon badge₍₀₎(23) in the upper rightregion of the app icon(20), but where the labeled icon badge(23) doesnot accompany any “0” or numerals inside or around itself(23).

The terminal may emphasize that the unread contents do not include anylabeled contents in different configurations or arrangements. Forexample, the terminal may display the labeled icon badge₍₀₎ without anynumeral for the labeled contents, N_(LB), while displaying such N_(LB)(i.e., N_(LB)=0) differently from the N_(LB) with at least one labeledcontent (i.e., N_(LB) is greater than 1). FIGS. 4E and 4F exemplifyvarious configurations or arrangements for the unread icon badge andlabeled icon badge when the unread contents do not include any labeledcontents (i.e., N_(LB)=0).

For example, FIG. 4E shows a labeled icon badge which emphasizes thatthe unread contents do not include any labeled contents. The terminaldisplays a labeled icon badge₍₀₎(23) on the upper right region of theapp icon(20). The terminal does not display any numeral for the labeledicon badge₍₀₎(23), while displaying the edges of the labeled iconbadge₍₀₎(23) using a dotted line. In another example, FIG. 4F shows alabeled icon badge₍₀₎ emphasizing that the unread contents do notinclude the labeled contents. The terminal displays the unread iconbadge(21) in a lower interior portion of the app icon(20), whiledisplaying the labeled icon badge₍₀₎(23) in an upper interior portion ofthe app icon(20). The terminal does not attach any numeral to thelabeled icon badge₍₀₎(23), and emphasize the edges of the labeled iconbadge(23) with the dotted lines.

In the third exemplary embodiment of this second exemplary aspect, whenthe unread contents do not include any labeled contents, a terminal mayomit displaying labeled icon badge₍₀₎ or, alternatively, may display theunread icon badge along with the labeled icon badge₍₀₎ which, however,does not include any numeral. FIGS. 4G and 4H exemplify theconfiguration or arrangement of the unread icon badge and labeled iconbadge when the unread contents do not include the labeled contents. Forexample, the terminal may display the unread icon badges of variousembodiments or examples of the first exemplary aspect (i.e., FIGS. 3A to3G). But, unlike the terminals of FIGS. 3A to 3D, the terminal of FIG.4G omits the labeled icon badge₍₀₎. Similarly, unlike the terminal ofFIG. 3F, the terminal of FIG. 4H omits the labeled icon badge₍₀₎.

The terminal may vary or modify the embodiment of the above paragraph inorder to display the (unread) labeled contents. For example, theterminal may display the unread icon badge, but only dimly display thelabeled icon badge, thereby informing a user that the unread contents donot include any labeled content. As the terminal displays the labeledicon badge less dimly, a user may more easily find out that the unreadcontents do not include the labeled contents. But this configuration maythen become more similar to that of the second embodiment of the secondexemplary aspect. Alternatively, the terminal may vary the configurationor arrangement of the unread icon badge to inform the user that thelabeled icon badge has been omitted. However, as such variation becomesmore conspicuous, that is, as the user can find it out more readily,such a configuration may become more similar to that of the secondembodiment of the second exemplary aspect, as will be disclosed below.

The above terminals, labeled contents, and labeled icon badges of thesecond exemplary aspect may be varied or modified in variousconfigurations or methods. Followings are various examples of suchmodifications or variations, where such modifications or variations [1]may be applied to modify or vary various embodiments or examples of thissecond exemplary aspect, or [2] may be applied to modify or varydifferent embodiments or examples of different exemplary aspectsdescribed hereinabove or hereinafter.

The first example of such modifications or variations of this secondexemplary aspect relates to configurations or arrangements capable ofemphasizing that the unread contents do not include the labeledcontents. For example, the terminal may [1] display the edges of thelabeled icon badge₍₀₎ thicker, brighter, darker or in other emphasizingconfigurations than the edges of the unread icon badge. [2] display theedges of the labeled icon badge₍₀₎ thinner, dimmer, lighter or in otherun-emphasizing configurations than the edges of the unread icon badge inorder to emphasize to the user that the unread contents do not includeany labeled contents and, therefore, that the user does not have tourgently check any unread content, or [3] display the labeled iconbadge₍₀₎ (i.e., the labeled icon badge representing that the unreadcontents do not include any labeled content) differently from thelabeled icon badge_((N)) (i.e., the labeled icon badge representing thatthe unread contents include at least one labeled content), in differentconfigurations or methods.

The second example of such modifications or variations of this secondexemplary aspect relates to configurations or methods of finding an appwhich has received the unread contents which, however, do not includeany labeled contents. For example, when a terminal is in an off state(i.e., its display unit is turned off) or when the terminal isdisplaying a lock screen (i.e., the screen displayed on a display unitin an on state but before a user passes the authentication), theterminal may [1] display all app icons for all apps each of whichincludes at least one unread content, or [2] display app icons for thoseapps each of which includes at least one (unread) labeled content. Sucha terminal may not display any app icon for an app which includes theunread contents but which does not include any labeled content.

The third exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of displaying a single icon badge while usingthe badge either as an unread icon badge or as a labeled icon badge.More particularly, this third aspect relates to the configuration andmethod of differently displaying the single icon badge when the unreadcontents do include or do not include any labeled contents such that theterminal may use a single icon badge either when a certain app may havereceived the labeled content or when the app may not have received anylabeled content. In other words, the terminal may display the unreadicon badge but may not display the labeled icon badge, while displayingdifferent unread icon badges when the unread contents include or do notinclude the labeled contents, thereby using the single unread badge bothas a labeled icon badge and an unread icon badge.

For example, the terminal may display various unread icon badges asshown in various embodiments or examples of the first exemplary aspect(i.e., FIGS. 3A to 3G), may not display the labeled icon badges of FIGS.3A to 3G, but may represent the unread icon badges and the unlabeledicon badges only using the unread icon badges. Accordingly, a user mayreadily and visually find out whether the unread contents may includeany labeled content. For illustration purposes and as far as only thisthird exemplary aspect is concerned, the icon badge for the unreadcontents which do not include any labeled content is referred to as the“unread icon badge,” while the icon badge for the unread contents whichdo include the labeled content is referred to as the “labeled iconbadge.”

Thus, when the unread contents do not include any labeled content, theterminal of this third exemplary aspect may display the unread iconbadges like those badges of FIGS. 3A to 3G and FIGS. 4A to 4H. However,when the unread contents include the labeled contents, the terminal maythen manipulate the unread icon badge, and use such manipulated unreadicon badge as the labeled icon badge. For example, when the unreadcontents include the labeled contents, the terminal may display theunread icon badge as the labeled icon badge by changing [1] a font,size, thickness, shape, color or background of the unread icon badge, or[2] a position or orientation of the unread icon badge.

In particular, when the unread contents may include the labeledcontents, the terminal may display the unread icon badge [1] by movingits position to a left side, a right side, an upper portion or a lowerportion of the display unit, thereby displaying the unread icon badge asthe labeled icon badge, or [2] by moving its position in a pointsymmetric arrangement, a line symmetric arrangement or an asymmetricarrangement, thereby displaying the unread icon badge as the labeledicon badge. Or the terminal may display the labeled icon badge byemphasizing the unread icon badge or its numeral, when the unreadcontents include the labeled contents. For example, the terminal [1] mayrotate the unread icon badge or its numeral (with respect to a certainaxis), shake the unread icon badge or its numeral either in a verticalor lateral direction, or otherwise move the unread icon badge or itsnumeral, [2] may change a size or a shape of the unread icon badge orits numeral, or [3] may change a color, a brightness or a transparencyof the unread icon badge or its numeral, thereby using the manipulatedunread icon badge as the labeled icon badge.

FIGS. 5A to 5D exemplify various configurations or arrangements ofmanipulating various features or positions of the unread icon badge,thereby using the manipulated unread icon badge as the labeled iconbadge.

In the first exemplary embodiment of this third exemplary aspect, aterminal may manipulate a size of a single icon badge, e.g., bigger orsmaller (or vice versa) when the unread contents do or do not includeany labeled content, thereby using the single icon badge as an unreadicon badge or as a labeled icon badge. FIG. 5A exemplifies theconfiguration or arrangement of using the unread icon badge as thelabeled icon badge by varying the size of the badge. That is, when theunread contents do not include any labeled content (panel (A) of FIG.5A), the terminal may display the icon badge in a smaller size and showthat the badge represents the unread icon badge(21) for the unreadcontents (or a number of such contents) which do not include the labeledcontents. But when the unread contents include at least one labeledcontent, the terminal may display the icon badge in a size bigger thanthe one in the panel (A) in order to show that the badge is the labeledicon badge(23) or a number of the labeled contents) for the unreadcontents which include the labeled contents.

Alternatively and as illustrated in the panel (B) of FIG. 5A, a terminalmay [1] display the labeled icon badge(23) bigger than the unread iconbadge(21) or [2] display the icon badge of the same size but may displaythe numeral of the labeled icon badge(23) bigger than the numeral of theunread icon badge(21). Or the terminal may not manipulate the size ofthe icon badge or its numeral but may manipulate [1] a color,transparency, shape or background of the badges(21)(23), [2] a color,transparency shape or thickness of the edges of such badges(2123), or[3] a font, a thickness, a color, a transparency or a shape of thenumeral of the badges(21)(23), thereby displaying the same or similarbadges as the unread icon badge(21) and the labeled icon badge(23).

When a terminal uses a single icon badge as an unread icon badge as wellas a labeled icon badge while manipulating various features of thesingle icon badge, a first-time user may be confused which badge is theunread or labeled icon badge. To obviate this confusion, the terminalmay add a “reference mark” to the icon badge. In other words, when usingthe icon badge as a labeled icon badge or as an unread icon badge, theterminal may also display a size or a position of the icon badge when itis to be used as an unread icon badge or as a labeled icon badge to auser. For example, the terminal of FIG. 5A may display a single iconbadge as the labeled icon badge(23), but may also display a referencemark(23N) for the unread icon badge(21) inside the labeled iconbadge(23). Therefore, even when the terminal may only display a singleicon badge, the user may readily compare the position or size of thebadge and may tell whether the badge is used as the unread icon badge oras the labeled icon badge.

In the second exemplary embodiment of this third exemplary aspect, aterminal may use a single icon badge, however, may manipulate variousfeatures of the single icon badge (e.g., a size of an outer portion ofthe icon badge or an edge of the icon badge) differently when the unreadcontents may include or may not include any labeled content, therebyusing the single icon badge as the unread icon badge or as the unreadlabeled icon badge. FIG. 5B exemplifies the configurations or methods ofdisplaying an unread icon badge as well as a labeled icon badge bymanipulating the edges of a single icon badge. For example, when theunread contents do not include the labeled content, the terminal of thepanel (A) of FIG. 5B displays a single icon badge, and represents thatthe badge corresponds to the unread icon badge(21) for the unreadcontents (or a number of the unread contents) which do not include anylabeled content. When the unread contents may include at least onelabeled content, however, the terminal may display an additional edgearound the icon badge, thereby informing a user that the badgecorresponds to the labeled icon badge(23) for the unread contents whichinclude the labeled contents or that the badge corresponds to a numberof the labeled contents included in the unread contents.

In this respect, a single icon badge in the panel (A) of FIG. 5B may bedeemed as an unread icon badge(21) with a circular shape, while a singleicon badge in the panel (B) of FIG. 5B may be deemed as an unreadlabeled icon badge(23) to which a ring is added and which is positionedaround the edge of the single icon badge or outside of the single iconbadge. Alternatively, the ring added to the single icon badge in thepanel (A) of FIG. 5B itself may be deemed as an unread labeled iconbadge(23), while the single icon badge may then be deemed as an unreadicon badge(21), where the ring may contact the edge of the unread iconbadge(21) or may be separated from an edge of the unread icon badge(21)by a certain distance.

In the third exemplary embodiment of this third exemplary aspect, aterminal may use a single icon badge, however, may represent the iconbadge with no labeled contents and the icon badge with at least onelabeled icon badge, by manipulating a position of a single icon badge ona display unit, thereby using the single icon badge as the unread iconbadge and the labeled icon badge. FIG. 5C exemplifies the configurationor method of sharing a single icon badge as the unread icon badge or thelabeled icon badge depending on a location in which it is displayed on adisplay unit. For example, when the unread contents do not include thelabeled contents, the terminal of the panel (A) of FIG. 5C may displaythe single icon badge in the right lower portion of the app con(20),thereby using the single badge as the unread icon badge(21). However,when the unread contents include the labeled contents, the terminal ofthe panel (B) of FIG. 5C may display the single icon badge in adifferent position, thereby sharing the single badge but using it as thelabeled icon badge(23).

When a terminal uses a single icon badge as an unread icon badge(21) oran unread labeled icon badge(23), the terminal may display suchbadges(21)(23) to have different features, based on whether or not theunread contents include any unread labeled content. In the fourthexemplary embodiment of this third exemplary aspect, a terminal maydisplay neither the unread icon badge nor the labeled icon badge,however, may only display a numeral of the badge. This may correspond toa configuration in which the terminal uses a single numeral which mayrepresent either a number of the unread contents or a number of thelabeled contents, thereby replacing the unread icon badge or the labeledicon badge by such a number. For example, FIG. 5D exemplifiesconfigurations or methods of manipulating a size of a single numeral anddisplaying such a numeral in different sizes one at t time on a displayunit, thereby sharing a single numeral as an unread icon badge or alabeled icon badge. That is, when the unread contents do not include anylabeled content, the terminal in the panel (A) of FIG. 5D may display asingle numeral in a lower portion inside an app icon(20), thereby usingsuch a single numeral as the unread icon badge(21). However, when theunread contents do include at least one labeled content, the terminal inthe panel (B) of FIG. 5D may manipulate the features such as a size or alocation of the single numeral(21), e.g., displaying the numeral biggerand in a center portion inside the app icon(20), thereby using thesingle numeral as the unread labeled icon badge(23).

The terminal may instead display the numeral(23) corresponding to thelabeled icon badge [1] to have a shape, a color or a background which isdifferent from that of the numeral(21) corresponding to the unread iconbadge, or [2] to have a position or orientation which may be differentfrom that of the numeral(21) corresponding to the unread icon badge.Alternatively, the terminal may display the unread icon badge(21) (or anumeral attached to the badge) and the labeled icon badge(23) (or anumeral attached to the badge) such that various differences between thepositions of such badges (or their numerals), e.g., a distance betweenthe badges(21)(23) or an angle between the badges(21)(23) may beproportional to a number of the labeled contents which are included inthe unread contents. When displaying the labeled icon badge(23), theterminal may display the reference mark(23N) inside or around the appicon (20), thereby displaying the original feature (such as a size or aposition) of the unread icon badge(21).

The terminal may also emphasize differences between the numeral(23) forthe labeled icon badge and the numeral(21) for the unread icon badge. Tothis end, the terminal may [1] use different fonts, sizes, thicknesses,colors, degrees of transparency or shapes, or [2] display such numeralsin different positions.

The above terminals, labeled contents, and labeled icon badges of thethird exemplary aspect may be also modified or varied in variousconfigurations or methods. Followings are various examples of suchmodifications or variations, where such modifications or variations [1]may be applied to modify or vary various embodiments or examples of thisthird exemplary aspect, or [2] may be applied to modify or varydifferent aspects, embodiments or examples described hereinabove orhereinafter.

The first example of the modifications or variations of this thirdexemplary aspect relates to configurations or methods of emphasizing thenumerals corresponding to the labeled (or unlabeled) icon badge, therebyallowing a user to easily recognize the labeled (or unread) icon badge.For example, when the unread contents do not include any labeledcontent, the terminal [1] may rotate the numeral about a certain axis,shake the numeral either vertically or laterally, or otherwise move sucha numeral, [2] may change a size or a shape of the numeral, [3] may varya size, a color, a thickness or a brightness of the numeral, [4] changea degree of transparency of the numeral, or [5] may manipulate theentire portion, a certain portion, an edge or a background of thenumeral similar to those methods of the [1] to [4] of this paragraph.The terminal may also display the reference mark(23N) together, therebyallowing a user to easily compare the numeral with the referencemark(23N).

The second example of such modifications or variations of this thirdexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods formanipulating various features of the app icon, thereby allowing a userto easily recognize whether a single numeral may represent [1] thefeatures of the labeled icon badge (e.g., a number or a substance of thelabeled content), or [2] the features of the unread contents. Forexample, the terminal may display a single numeral inside or around theapp icon, [1] while manipulating a size, a shape or a color of the appicon, thereby informing the user which icon badge the numeral mayrepresent, or [2] while displaying a character or a symbol inside oraround the app icon, thereby informing the user which icon badge thenumeral may represent, based on such a character or symbol.

The third example of such modifications or variations of this thirdexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or arrangements fordisplaying various features of the unread icon badge or the labeled iconbadge by using multiple numerals, characters or symbols. For example,the terminal may display the numerals such as, e.g., “23/127” or“23:127” similar to the embodiments or examples of the third exemplaryaspect, where “23/127” or “23:127” may mean that a certain app or acertain group of the app includes a total of 127 unread contents, andwhere 23 of such unread contents are labeled contents.

Various embodiments and examples of the above first, second, and thirdexemplary aspects which are exemplified in the “1. Displaying LabeledIcon Badges and Unread Icon Badges” may be interchangeable. In otherwords, as long as the embodiments or examples may not contradict eachother, such embodiments or examples [1] may also apply to correspondingfeatures of other aspects, embodiments, or examples of this disclosure,[2] may be incorporated into corresponding features of other aspects,embodiments, or examples of this disclosure, [3] may replacecorresponding features of other aspects, embodiments, or examples ofthis disclosure, [4] may be replaced by corresponding features of otheraspects, embodiments, or examples of this disclosure, or [5] may becombined with corresponding features of other aspects, embodiments, orexamples of this disclosure.

2. Creatin the Labeled Content in the Perspective of a User

Various data processing terminals of this disclosure may transmit orreceive various contents in various arrangements. That is, when a useris to create a certain content, a terminal may incorporate the contentas well as a “label signal” into a certain data packet, thereby creatinga “labeled data packet.” This is to be referred that a terminal “createsor converts” the content into a labeled content throughout thisdisclosure. However, when the terminal creates an unlabeled data packetwhich includes the content but does not include the label signal, thisis to be referred that a terminal “creates or converts” the content intoan unlabeled content throughout this disclosure.

A user or terminal of this disclosure may create the “label signal” invarious methods. For example, while running a certain app, a user of acertain group which is established by a certain app may select at leastone member of the group as a labeled receiver, before creating thecontent, while creating the content or after creating the content. Inother words, the user may manually select a labeled receiver [1] bymanipulating a member icon (or member U/I) of a member who is displayedin a content window in which multiple members would exchange theircontents, or [2] by retrieving a member list in a group window or in acontent window. Such configurations or methods of this paragraph are tobe referred in this disclosure that [1] a user manually selects at leastone labeled receiver and, therefore, “the user directly creates a labelsignal,” or [2] “a terminal indirectly creates a label signal” based onthe user's selection of the labeled receiver, where the [1] and [2] ofthis sentence are deemed to have the same meaning.

To the contrary, a user of a certain group of a certain app may drivethe app, but may choose to not select any labeled receiver before,during or after creating a content. However, the content created by theuser may include a “label request information” such as, e.g., [1] aname, [2] a title, [3] a nickname, or [4] a character, a text, an imageor a sound, where each of the [1] to [4] of this sentence may refer toor mean at least one certain member of the same group. In this case, theterminal may employ various prior art information analysis algorithms,may analyze the content with such algorithms, may select at least onemember of the group as a labeled receiver based on the analysis, and maythen create the “label signal” corresponding to the labeled receiver.

For example, a terminal may employ various information analysisalgorithms such as [1] analysis algorithms for artificial intelligence(i.e., “AI”), machine learning or deep learning, [2] analysis algorithmsfor natural language processing, [3] analysis algorithms for analyzingbig data, or [4] other text or voice analysis algorithms. Suchconfigurations or methods described in this paragraph are to be referredin this disclosure [1] that a terminal may proactively select at leastone labeled receiver and, therefore, “the terminal directly creates alabel signal,” or [2] that “a user indirectly creates a label signal” bymanipulating the terminal using the “label request information,” wherethe [1] and [2] of this sentence are deemed to have the same thingthroughout this disclosure.

The fourth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of allowing a user in a group window or in acontent window to select at least one labeled receiver, creating a labelsignal, and then creating a labeled content.

When a user of a certain group established by a certain app drives thenapp, the user may select a labeled receiver before advancing to acontent window of a certain group which is one of multiple groupsprovided in a group window. For example, the user who is operating theapp in a group window(15) of FIG. 2A [1] may touch or press a member IDor a member U/I(17), [2] may manipulate a hard-button type keyboard (tobe abbreviated as a “hard keyboard hereinafter) or a soft-button typekeyboard (to be abbreviated as a “soft keyboard” hereinafter), or [3]may manipulate other input units, thereby selecting at least one certainmember as a labeled receiver. Alternatively, when a terminal displaysmultiple group windows(15) on a display unit, the user may choose onegroup window(15) from multiple group windows, may then choose a certaingroup which may correspond to one of multiple groups displayed on thechosen group window(15), may then open a content window(19) of thecertain group, and may then select a certain group as a labeled receiverby providing a user input to a member ID or a member U/I in the contentwindow(10).

Alternatively, the user may provide an acoustic user input (e.g., hisvoice) to an input unit (e.g., a microphone), thereby selecting at leastone member as a labeled receiver, where such a member corresponds to oneof multiple member IDs or member U/Is(17) displayed in a groupwindow(15) or a content window(19). Alternatively, the terminal mayacquire an image of a user's iris, retina, other eye parts or face, andmay extract an electromagnetic user input, thereby indirectly orproactively selecting at least one member of the group as the labeledreceiver. For example, the terminal may analyze a line of sight of auser staring at the group window(15) or content window(19), and may thenselect a certain member as the labeled receiver.

As described above, the user who is operating a certain app and whobelongs to a certain group can select at least one member of the groupas the labeled receiver, or may select multiple members of multiplegroups as the labeled receivers. For simplicity of illustration,following embodiments and examples of this fourth exemplary aspectmainly explain various configurations and methods with which a user (ora content sender) may select a single member as the labeled receiver.However, following embodiments and examples of this fourth exemplaryaspect as well as other exemplary aspects of this disclosure may equallyapply to configurations and methods with which a user or a terminal mayselect multiple members as the labeled receivers, for selecting multiplelabeled receivers may be easily performed by repeating the selection ofthe single labeled receiver simultaneously or sequentially. FollowingFIGS. 6A to 6D exemplify various configurations or methods of selectinga labeled receiver, by user's direct manipulation of a hard keyboard, asoft keyboard, other input units or a display unit.

The first exemplary embodiment of this fourth exemplary aspect relatesto various configurations or operational sequences of a terminal, wherea user may directly manipulate various hardware elements of the terminalfor selecting a labeled receiver. In particular, FIGS. 6A and 6Bexemplify various configurations or methods of allowing a user toprovide a user input by directly manipulating a hard keyboard, a softkeyboard, an input unit or a touch-screen type display unit, therebyallowing the user to provide a user input and to select at least onelabeled receiver in a content window.

As shown in FIG. 6A, a terminal(10) may include various hardwareelements and software elements, where examples of such hardware elementsmay include a display unit(11) which is one of many output units, atleast one hard-button type input unit(12A)(12B)(12C), and other unitsimplemented into an interior of the terminal(10) such as a transmissionunit, a reception unit, a control unit, a storage unit, an output unit(e.g., a speaker), or the like. It is noted that, when the display unitis the touch-screen type, a hard-button type input unit may be replacedby a soft-button type input unit.

Examples of the software elements of the terminal(10) may include aninput window(14), a content window(19), a soft keyboard(13), a softarrow key(13A), a soft send button (or a send U/I)(13S), and the like.However, when the terminal may include a hard-button type keyboard or ahard-button type arrow key, the terminal may not require a soft-buttontype keyboard or a soft-button type arrow key. It is noted that, when auser may transmit a data packet using a hard-button type input unit orwhen the terminal includes a hard-button type send button, the terminalmay not need the soft-button type send button.

Examples of other software elements may also include an operating system(O/S) of the terminal(10), multiple apps implemented into theterminal(10), and other computer commands, computer programs or sets ofcomputer programs which may be related to the O/S or which may beindependent of the O/S. As used herein, when the above O/S, apps,commands or programs run a certain operation, it is to be collectivelyreferred to as “a terminal runs a certain operation.”

As shown in FIG. 6A, a terminal may display a variety of informationusing a content window(19).

For example, the terminal may display on the content window(19) [1] themember icons (or member U/Is)(32) of the members of a certain group, [2]various contents which are transmitted by such members (i.e., unlabeledcontents transmitted to all members of the group as well as labeledcontents transmitted to a certain member), [3] an input window(14) inwhich a user may type or create a content, [4] a content send button (orU/I)(35), or [5] a soft keyboard(13) or an arrow key(13A) when thedisplay unit(11) is a touch-screen type. For simplicity of illustration,however, FIG. 6A does not include other detailed information such as,e.g., a time of receiving the content.

A user may create a contents in various methods. For example, the usermay create the content [1] by manipulating a soft keyboard or a hardkeyboard(13), [2] by manipulating an arrow key(13A), or [3] by attachinga file or a folder of various types. The terminal displays the contentcreated by a user on the input window(14). As a result, a user may [1]easily confirm the content which he is creating or he has alreadycreated, or [2] easily correct any error included in the content.

A user may select at least one member of the group as a labeled receiverin various methods, before, during or after creating a content in aninput window(14). To this end, a user may select a certain member as thelabeled receiver [1] by pressing or contacting a member ID (or a memberU/I)(17), [2] by manipulating a hard keyboard or a soft keyboard, or [3]by manipulating other input units.

For example, FIG. 6A exemplifies a situation in which a user touches orpresses an icon (or an U/I)(32) of “Park” who is the third member fromthe top of the members displayed in a content window(19) and, as aresult, a terminal selects “Park” as a labeled receiver. As a result andas shown in FIG. 6B, the terminal(10) may emphasize the icon (orU/I)(32) of “Park” as in (33), and the user may easily confirm whetherthe selected member is the one whom the user intended as the labeledreceiver.

The terminal(10) of FIGS. 6A and 6B displays the member IDs(17) or themember icons(32) in the content window(19). In particular, theterminal(10) may display the contents according to the time of receptionand, thus, may display the content which the terminal received mostrecently from another member above the input window(14) or which theuser has just transmitted above the input window(14). As a result, thecontent which is displayed at the bottom of the content window(19) isthe one which is more recently received or transmitted than the contentwhich is displayed above the content window(19).

Therefore, when a user selects a certain member as a labeled receiver, auser may not be able to see the member's ID(17) or icon(32) in thecontent window(19) when that member has not transmitted any contentrecently and, as a result, the user may not easily select that member.To obviate this inconvenience, the terminal(10) may allow a user toscroll up or down the content window(19) and to select a labeledreceiver before, during or after creating the content. Alternatively andas will be explained in detail below, a user may provide an acousticuser input or an electromagnetic user input, thereby selecting a certainlabeled receiver without having to scroll up or down the contentwindow(19).

When the terminal(10) displays multiple unread contents in the contentwindow(19), the terminal(10) may display such unread contents in anorder of reception on the display unit(11) for the user. In such a case,the content which is displayed immediately above the input window(14)may not be the most recent unread content.

When a user finishes manipulation of the member icon (or U/I)(32), aterminal(10) may create a “label signal” which represents a labeledreceiver who is selected and labeled based on the user's manipulation.That is the label signal may be regarded as a signal which may representwhich member of a certain group is the labeled receiver. Such a labelsignal may be constructed as a matrix or a database, or may beconstructed as an element of the above matrix or database.

Thereafter, the terminal(10) may create a “labeled data packet” byincluding the content created by the user, the “label signal” created bythe user, and at least one of a header or a tail in the data packet.When a user completes creating the content and then selecting thelabeled receiver, or when the user completes selecting the labeledreceiver and then creating the content, the user may manipulate the sendbutton (or U/I)(13S) (e.g., by pressing or touching), and transmit thecontent.

When the user manipulates the send button (or U/I)(13S) in order totransmit the content which he created, the terminal may transmit thelabeled data packet (including the labeled content) to a (central orlocal) server. Upon receiving the labeled data packet, the server maytransmit the labeled data packet to [1] all members of the group, or [2]some but not all members of the group. In addition, when a user pressesthe send button(13S), the terminal(10) may request a confirmation oftransmission from the user. Or the terminal(10) may ask the user toconfirm whether the member which the user selected is a correct labeledreceiver. When the user confirms that the selected member is indeed thelabeled receiver, the terminal(10) may then transmit the labeled datapacket. However, when the user rejects the confirmation, theterminal(10) [1] may hold the content transmission, and may request theuser to select the right labeled receiver, or [2] may transmit thecontent as the unlabeled content.

Upon receiving the labeled content from the user in the form of alabeled data packet, a terminal of a receiver may extract the contentand the label signal from the labeled data packet. When the receiver'sterminal confirms that the receiver is the labeled receiver based on thelabel signal (i.e., the label signal corresponds to that receiver), theterminal of the receiver may display the content in the contentwindow(19) as the labeled content. However, when the receiver is not thelabeled receiver (i.e., the label signal does not correspond to thatreceiver), the receiver is an unlabeled receiver, not the labeledreceiver. Therefore, the receiver's terminal may display the content inthe content window(19) as an unlabeled content.

The second exemplary embodiment of this fourth exemplary aspect mayrelate to exemplary configurations or operational sequences of aterminal which may allow a user to select a labeled receiver by allowingthe user to manipulate its various hardware elements. FIGS. 6C and 6Dexemplify the configuration or operational sequences of a terminal whichmay allow a user to manipulate its hard keyboard, its soft keyboard orinput units or which may allow the user to provide a user input bydirectly touching its touch-screen type display unit, thereby allowingthe user to select a labeled receiver in the content window.

Various configurations and methods of FIGS. 6C and 6D are generallyidentical to those of FIGS. 6A and 6B, but differ in configurations andmethods of selecting the labeled receiver. It is noted that aterminal(10) of FIGS. 6C and 6D includes various hardware and softwareelements which may be identical or similar to those of the terminal ofFIGS. 6A and 6B and, therefore, that further details are omitted. Inaddition, the content window(19) of FIG. 6C is similar or identical tothat of FIG. 6A and, therefore, further details are omitted.

That is, the difference between the terminals of FIGS. 6A and 6C is thata content window of the terminal(10) of FIG. 6A may display the membericons of all members of a certain group, but that the terminal(10) ofFIG. 6C may display the member icons of all members of the group in itscontent window(19), while displaying the member icons (or U/Is)(32) ofthose members whom the user may select as the labeled receiversdifferently from the member icons (or U/Is)(32) of the members whom theuser may not select as the labeled receivers. As a result, the terminalmay offer the benefit of preventing the user from accidentlytransmitting the labeled content to those members who cannot be thelabeled receivers.

For example, the terminal(10) of FIG. 6C displays most members'icons(32) in their active state (e.g., the active state is described asan oval surrounding the member icon) in the content window(19), whilethe member icon(32) for the second member, “Lee,” is displayed in itsinactive state (e.g., the inactive state is described as having nooval). Thus, the user may not select “Lee” as the labeled receiver. As aresult, the user may transmit an unlabeled contents to “Lee” but cannotsend a labeled content to “Lee.” This configuration offers the benefitof preventing the user from making a mistake of transmitting a labeledcontent to “Lee” who has been excluded from the list of the labeledreceivers.

A user may manually (or directly) [1] exclude at least one member of acertain group of a certain app from the list of labeled receivers, or[2] add that member to the list of non-receivers. It is noted thatadding the member to the list of non-receivers corresponds to excludingthe same member from the list of labeled receivers. Therefore, followingembodiments and examples will focus on the case of [1] of thisparagraph, while omitting the case of [2] of this paragraph.

When a user deletes the member from the list of labeled receivers, theterminal(10) may [1] delete the member from the list of labeledreceivers for that group only, [2] delete the member from all lists oflabeled receivers of all the groups established by the app, [3] deletethe member from the lists of labeled receivers of some but not allgroups established by the app, [4] delete the member from all lists oflabeled receivers of all the groups established by all the appsimplemented to the terminal, or [5] delete the member from the lists oflabeled receivers of all the groups established by some but not all theapps implemented to the terminal.

A user may delete a certain member from the list of labeled receivers ormay add the member to the list of non-receivers, by employing variousmethods of selecting the labeled receivers which may be similar to oridentical to those explained in the first embodiment of the fourthexemplary aspect. Alternatively, the user may use the set-up function ofthe terminal in order to delete the member from the list of labeledreceivers or to add the member to the list of non-receivers. As aresult, the user may receive the unlabeled content or labeled contenttransmitted by that member, but the user may not transmit the labeledcontent to that member. Depending upon various settings of the terminalor app settings, the user may not transmit even unlabeled contents tothat member.

To the contrary, the terminal may use various information analysisalgorithms such as, e.g., those used in artificial intelligence, machinelearning, deep learning, natural language processing, big data, voiceanalysis, or text analysis, and choose the member to be deleted from thelist of the labeled receivers. For example, the above informationanalysis algorithms may analyze various data stored in [1] the terminal,[2] the app, or [3] a certain group of a certain app. Based on suchanalysis, the terminal may confirm a certain member whom the user mayavoid, may choose such a member, and may then delete that member fromthe list of labeled receivers. More particularly, the terminal maychoose the member to be deleted from the list of labeled receivers byconsidering the contents exchanged between the user and the member, orthe business or personal relationship between the user and the member.

A user may create a content in the input window(14) in various methods,which are similar or identical to those explained in conjunction withFIGS. 6A and 6B and, therefore, further details are omitted herein.Before, during or after creating the content, the user may select alabeled receiver [1] from the members who are included in the list oflabeled receivers, or [2] from the members who are not included in thelist of non-receivers. Further details of selecting such labeledreceivers are similar or identical to those exemplified in conjunctionwith FIGS. 6A and 6B and, therefore, are omitted herein.

Once the user finishes manipulation of the member icon (or U/I)(32), theterminal(10) may create a “label signal” which may represent a labeledreceiver who is selected based on the user's manipulation. Theterminal(10) may then attach a “label mark(33)” on or around the membericon(32) of the member who has been labeled in the content window(19)displayed on the display unit(11).

The terminal(10) may request the user's confirmation whether or not theselected member is the labeled receiver in various methods. For example,when a user checks the label mark(33) and finds out that a first memberwith a label mark(33) in a content window(19) is not the member whom theuser intended, the user may manipulate the member icon(32) and cancelthe selection of the first member. Thereafter, the user may select asecond member as the labeled receiver. In response thereto, theterminal(10) may cancel the label mark(33) for the first member.

Alternatively, when a user presses the send button(13S), theterminal(10) may request the user's confirmation for the transmission.For example, the terminal(10) may ask the user to confirm whether thefirst member selected by the user is the labeled receiver. When the userconfirms that the first member whom the user selected is the correctlabeled receiver, the terminal(10) may transmit a labeled data packet.When the user does not confirm, the terminal(10) may hold thetransmission of the data packet, and [1] may request the user tore-select a new labeled receiver, or [2] may transmit the content as theunlabeled content immediately or after a certain period of time.

When the user fails to respond to the confirmation requests explained inthe above two paragraphs within a certain period of time, theterminal(10) [1] may regard that as the user's confirmation, andtransmit the content created by the user in the form of the labeled datapacket, [2] may regard the content created by the user as the unlabeledcontent, and transmit the content in the form of the unlabeled datapacket, [3] may request the confirmation by the user once more, or [4]may hold the transmission of the content until the user takes a certainaction.

When the user confirms the label mark(33) and manipulates the sendbutton(13S), the terminal(10) may transmit a labeled data packet whichincludes the labeled content to a (central or local) server. Uponreceiving such a data packet, the server may transmit the labeled datapacket [1] to all members of the group or [2] to some but not allmembers of the group. Detailed of such configurations or methods havebeen provided in conjunction with FIGS. 6A and 6B and, therefore, areomitted herein.

The above terminals, labeled contents, or labeled icon badges of thefourth exemplary aspect may be also modified or varied in variousconfigurations or methods. Followings are various examples of suchmodifications or variations, where such modifications or variations [1]may be applied to modify or vary various embodiments or examples of thisfourth exemplary aspect, or [2] may be applied to modify or varydifferent embodiments or examples of different exemplary aspectsdescribed hereinabove or hereinafter.

The first example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of creatingvarious label signals which are different from those label signalsexemplified above. For example, instead of the label signal in the formof a matrix or a database, the terminal may use the label signal whichmay be either “0” or “1.” Accordingly, when the label signal is “1,” itmeans that the receiver is the labeled receiver. However, when the labelsignal is “0,” the receiver is not the labeled receiver but theunlabeled receiver.

When the terminal transmits the labeled data packet to a server, theserver receives the labeled data packet, and then may transmit thepacket to all members of the group. Upon receiving the labeled datapacket, a terminal of the receiver may extract the content from thelabeled data packet, and may check the label signal. When the receiveris the labeled receiver (i.e., the label signal is “1”), the terminalmay display the content as the labeled content. However, when thereceiver is an unlabeled receiver (i.e., the label signal is “0”), theterminal may display the content as an unlabeled content.

The second example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods ofchecking the labeled content. For example and contrary to the above, theterminal may create not only the labeled data packet but also an“unlabeled data packet” which may include the content created by theuser, a header, and a tail but which does not include the label signal.The terminal may transmit both the labeled data packet and the unlabeleddata packet to a server. Upon receiving such packets, the server maytransmit the labeled data packet to the labeled receiver, whiletransmitting the unlabeled data packet to the rest of the members of thegroup. Accordingly, a terminal of the labeled receiver may receive thelabeled data packet, and display the content as the labeled content.However, a terminal of the unlabeled receiver may receive the unlabeleddata packet, and display the content as the unlabeled content.

The third example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations and methods oftransmitting various data packets and label signals. Contrary to theabove, the terminal may create the “unlabeled data packet” which mayinclude the content created by the user, a header, and a tall but whichdoes not include the label signal. The terminal may transmit theunlabeled data packet and the label signal to a server. The serverreceives the unlabeled data packet and the label signal, may thentransmit both of the unlabeled data packet and label signal to thelabeled receiver, but may transmit only the unlabeled data packet to therest of the members of the group. After receiving the unlabeled datapacket and the label signal, a terminal of the labeled receiver maydisplay the content as the labeled content. However, the terminals ofthe rest of the members may receive only the unlabeled data packet, andmay then display the content as the unlabeled content.

The fourth example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods of storingand retrieving various contents or label signals. Various terminals andservers of this disclosure may store such contents, label signals,unlabeled data packets or labeled data packets in various methods. Forexample, a server may receive, process, or store the contents, labelsignals, unlabeled data packets or labeled data packets. The server maythen [1] transmit only one of the unlabeled data packet and labeled datapacket to a receiver, [2]transmit the content and label signal to alabeled receiver but transmit only the content to an unlabeled receiver,or [3] inform a receiver (or a terminal of the receiver) of a storagelocation in a server in which the labeled content, unlabeled content orlabel signal may be stored.

Alternatively, a server may receive both of the unlabeled data packetand the labeled data packet, and then transmit such data packets afterprocessing such data packets or without any processing. Accordingly,when a receiver's terminal receives the labeled data packet, theterminal may display the content included in the labeled data packet asthe labeled content. When the receiver's terminal receives the unlabeleddata packet, however, the terminal may display the content that isincluded in the unlabeled data packet as the unlabeled content. Whendesirable, the server may process or store an entire portion or only aportion of the unlabeled data packet or labeled data packet.

Alternatively, a server may receive a label signal and a data packetwhich does not include any label signal, and then may transmit the labelsignal and the data packet to a receiver, with or without processing orstoring such a label signal or data packet. When a terminal of areceiver receives only the data packet, the terminal may display thecontent included in the data packet as an unlabeled content. Incontrary, when the receiver's terminal receives the label signal as wellas the data packet, the terminal may display the content included in thedata packet as the labeled content. When desirable, the server mayprocess or store an entire portion or only a portion of the data packetor label signal.

In contrary, the server may transmit various contents or various datapackets to the receiver's terminal in various methods which may be acombination or a modification of such configurations or methods of thisfourth exemplary aspect. For example, a server may receive [1] at leastone of a labeled data packet and an unlabeled data packet, [2] a contentand a label signal, [3] an unlabeled data packet and a label signal, or[4] a label signal, an unlabeled data packet, and a labeled data packet.The server may store at least one of the content, label signal, labeleddata packet, and unlabeled data packet. Similarly, the server maytransmit [1] at least one of an unlabeled data packet and a labeled datapacket, [2] a content and a label signal, [3] a label signal and anunlabeled data packet, or [4] a label signal, a labeled data packet, andan unlabeled data packet. As described above, a receiver's terminal may[1] receive from a server or from a user one of such data packets andthen extract a content therefrom, [2] directly receive a content insteadof such data packets, or [3] information as to the storage location ofthe content in the server.

The fifth example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of selecting alabeled receiver using the user inputs of various types. For example, auser may select a labeled receiver by providing the mechanical userinput as described above or other mechanical user inputs of differenttypes. In other words, a user may select a labeled receiver bymanipulating not his body part but a non-user object and by providingvarious mechanical, electric or magnetic user inputs to various inputunits of the terminal.

In contrary, a user may stare at a member ID of a certain member of theuser's choice in a group window or a content window, or may stare at amember ID of a certain member or a content which has been transmitted bythat member in a content window, while providing an electromagnetic userinput to various input units of the terminal and allowing the terminalto select a certain member as the labeled receiver. More particularly,the terminal may acquire an image of a user's iris, retina, other partsof his eye or face using a camera or another image acquisition unit, andmay analyze the image to extract a line of sight of a user from theimage. Based on the analysis, the terminal may identify a certain memberwhom the user stares at in the group window or content window, andselect that member as the labeled receiver.

The user may also select a labeled receiver by providing an acousticuser input (e.g., his voice or other sounds) to a microphone or otherequivalent input units of the terminal. For example, the user may selecta certain member as the labeled receiver by speaking [1] a name, [2] atitle, [3] a nickname, [4] an ID, or [5] a numeral, a symbol or a titleassigned to the certain member to the microphone. Alternatively, theuser may select a certain member as the labeled receiver by speaking tothe microphone [1] a task or a schedule related to a certain member, [2]a word or a phrase included in the contents exchanged with the certainmember, or [3] a word, a phrase or description of an image related tothe certain member.

More particularly, when a user provides the electromagnetic user input(e.g., an image) or the acoustic user input (e.g., a voice), the usermay select a certain member as the labeled receiver, even when thedisplay unit may or may not display an input window or a content window.In addition, when the terminal or app receives the acoustic user inputby using the voice recognition unit, the user may select a certainmember as the labeled receiver by speaking [1] a name, a short name or anickname, or [2] a word like “label” or its equivalent, after the userchooses a certain member or after the terminal displays an input windowon the display unit.

The sixth example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations and methods forconfirming the selection of a certain labeled receiver. In other words,the terminal may ask a user, even when the user has not selected anylabeled receiver. For example, the terminal may ask a user whether ornot to select a labeled receiver [1] when a user requests an inputwindow, [2] when the user begins to create a content in the inputwindow, [3] when the contents created by a user may include a name, atitle, or a nickname of a certain member, [4] when the contents createdby a user may include a word which points or reminds a certain member,[5] when a user creates a content which exceeds a certain length or acertain size, or [6] when the user presses the send button withoutselecting any labeled receiver.

When the user provides an input that he does not select any labeledreceiver, the terminal may regard the content created by the user as anunlabeled content, may include the content into an unlabeled datapacket, and may then transmit the unlabeled data packet. In contrary,when the user provides an input that he will select at least one labeledreceiver, the terminal may wait for the selection by the user, may labelthe receiver selected by the user as the labeled receiver, may includethe contents into a labeled data packet, and may then transmit thelabeled data packet. To accommodate convenience on the part of the user,the terminal may display a member list of a certain group or a list ofthe labeled receivers of the group.

The seventh example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods ofselecting multiple members of a certain group established by a certainapp as the labeled receivers. To this end, a terminal may create various“label signals” [1] each of which may label a different member of thegroup as the labeled receiver or [2] each of which may label multiplemembers of the group as the labeled receivers.

For example, when the label signal has a format of a matrix or adatabase and when the group includes N members, the matrix or thedatabase may include various data for the cases for 0 labeled receiver(i.e., all members not unlabeled receivers), for 1 labeled receiver, for2 labeled receivers, . . . , for (N−3) labeled receivers, for (N−2)labeled receivers, or for (N−1) labeled receivers (i.e., all membersexcept the user are labeled receivers). That is, the terminal may storeinformation regarding all possible combinations of such N members andthe label signals for such combinations. When desirable, the terminalmay limit the maximum number of such labeled receivers, or may constructthe matrix or database while excluding a certain member. The terminalmay store such combinations and corresponding label signals, not for allmembers of a certain group, but for those members included in the listof the labeled receivers.

When the label signal is “0” or “1,” the terminal may transmit theunlabeled data packet with the label signal “0” (i.e., the receiver isnot a labeled receiver) or the labeled data packet with the label signal“1” (i.e., the receiver is a labeled receiver) to one or multiplemembers. Therefore, when the user does not label any member as thelabeled receiver, the terminal may transmit the unlabeled data packetwith the label signal “0” to all members of the group. Alternatively,when the label signal may be any number, character or symbol, a terminalmay transmit a data packet (i.e., a labeled data packet) in which anynumber, character or symbol is included in a certain portion which isassigned to a label signal to a single or multiple members. In addition,such a terminal may transmit another data packet (i.e., an unlabeleddata packet) in which the certain portion assigned to the label signalis empty to other members of the group. The terminal may also selectmultiple members as the labeled receivers using various methodsdescribed heretofore and hereinafter.

As described above, when a terminal transmits either a labeled datapacket (including a label signal) or an unlabeled data packet (without alabel signal), a terminal of a receiver may display a certain contenteither as a labeled content or as an unlabeled content, depending uponan existence or an absence of a label signal in the data packet. In thiscase, the label signal may be any number, any character or any symbol.In other words, when a certain portion of a data packet which isspecifically assigned to a label signal is empty, the terminal mayregard such a data packet as an unlabeled data packet. However, when theabove portion includes any number, character, symbol, image or otherinformation, the terminal may regard such a data packet as a labeleddata packet.

The eighth example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods forcreating and using an “anti-label signal” which may be regarded as anopposite to the label signal. For example, a terminal may create an“anti-label signal” which represents at least one non-labeled receiverof a labeled content, in contrary to the label signal which representsat least one labeled receiver. The terminal may then create and use an“unlabeled data packet” which includes the anti-label signal. That is,the anti-label signal may be regarded as a signal which may representthat a certain member of a group is not a labeled receiver but anunlabeled receiver. Therefore, a terminal which may receive a datapacket including the anti-label signal may display the content as anunlabeled content, whereas a terminal which may receive another datapacket which does not include the anti-label signal may display thecontent as a labeled content.

The configurations of this example may apply to the aforementioned labelsignals as well as to other embodiments or examples related to the labelsignals. That is, a terminal may use the anti-label signal which is theopposite to the label signal, in confirming an unlabeled receiver andthen regarding at least one member as a labeled receiver. As a result,the terminal may display the content included in a data packet with theanti-label signal as the unlabeled content, while displaying the contentincluded in a data packet without the anti-label signal as the labeledcontent.

The ninth example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations and methods forselective transmission of a labeled content to a certain member. Thatis, a user may transmit a labeled data packet or a labeled content onlyto a labeled receiver of a certain group, not to all members of thegroup. As a result, an unlabeled receiver may not even receive anunlabeled data packet which include the same content. In other words,the unlabeled receiver may not receive the content which a usertransmits to the labeled receiver, and the user may only transmit thelabeled content only to the labeled receiver.

To this end, when the label signal has a type of a matrix or database,the terminal [1] may modify the elements of the matrix or database andexclude those members who do not correspond to the label signal, therebyensuring that such members may not even receive any unlabeled datapacket, or [2] may ensure that the content may be transmitted only tothose receivers who correspond to the label signal by using variousmethods described in this disclosure or other prior art methods.

When the terminal uses the label signal which is either “0” or “1,” theterminal may set a label signal of a labeled data packet which is to betransmitted to a labeled receiver as “1,” while setting a label signalof an unlabeled data packet which is to be transmitted to the rest ofthe members as “0,” thereby ensuring that the rest of the members maynot even receive an unlabeled data packet. The terminal may use “2” inaddition to “0” and “1” as the label signals in such a way [1] that theterminal does not transmit any content to a member who is assigned withthe label signal of “0,” [2] that the terminal may transmit the contentas an unlabeled content to a member assigned with another label signalof “1,” or [3] that the terminal may transmit the content as a labeledcontent to a member who may be assigned with a label signal of “2.” Theterminal may also employ other conventional methods to transmit acontent only to a receiver who matches the label signal.

The tenth example of such modifications or variations of this fourthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations and methods fordirect transmission of an unlabeled data packet, a labeled data packet,a content or a label signal to other members of a certain group from aterminal of the user, without having to go through a server. That is, bychanging settings of a terminal or changing a structure of a network ofa server, a user may directly transmit a labeled data packet, unlabeleddata packet, content or label signal to other members of the group,without having to route via the server. This example may apply to caseswhere a terminal of a user may be able to directly exchange contentswith a terminal of a receiver without the intervention of a serverthrough, e.g., a bluetooth, an NFC, or the like.

Various embodiments and examples of the above fourth exemplary aspectmay be interchangeable with the embodiments or examples of otherexemplary aspects. Therefore, as long as there is no contradiction,various embodiments or examples of this fourth aspect [1] may also applyto corresponding features of other embodiments or examples of thisfourth aspect or other embodiments or examples of other aspects of thisdisclosure, [2] may be incorporated into corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of this fourth or other aspects, [3] may replacecorresponding features of other embodiments or examples of this fourthor other aspects, [4] may be replaced by corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of this fourth or other aspects of thisdisclosure, or [5] may be combined with corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of this fourth or other aspects.

The fifth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of using various member lists displayed on thedisplay unit in selecting a single or multiple members as the labeledreceivers, in creating a labeled signal, and also in creating a labeleddata packet including a content and a label signal. A user driving acertain app may select at least one labeled receiver before inputting acontent into an input window, during such inputting or after suchinputting. To this end, a user may consult a “member list” whichdisplays all (or multiple) members or their member IDs of a certaingroup established by a certain app.

Although the following embodiments and examples of this aspect maymainly explain various configurations and methods of selecting a singlemember of a certain group of a certain app as a labeled receiver, theterminal may readily modify such configurations or methods to allow auser to repeat such procedures and to select multiple members asmultiple labeled receivers. Therefore, further details of suchconfigurations or methods of selecting multiple member as the labeledreceivers are omitted.

The first exemplary embodiment of this fifth exemplary aspect relates tovarious configurations or operational sequences of a terminal which mayallow a user to directly select a labeled receiver using a “member list”displayed on a group window. For example, when the terminal(10) maydisplay a member list which may include the member IDs (or U/Is)(17) ofall (or multiple) members of a certain group set up by a certain app ina group window(15) as exemplified in FIG. 2A, a user may then select alabeled receiver from the member list [1] by directly pressing,contacting or otherwise manipulating the member ID(17), [2] bymanipulating the member ID(17) with a hard keyboard or a soft keyboard,or [3] by manipulating the member ID(17) with other input units.

Alternatively, the user may open a content window(19) on a displayunit(11) by selecting a certain group from multiple groups displayed ina group windows(15), may display a member list on a content window(19)after providing a user input, and may then select a certain receiverfrom the member list as a labeled receiver. Or a user may display themember list on the display unit(11), and may then select a certainmember as a labeled receiver in a group window(15) or a contentwindow(19) by providing an acoustic user input such as his voice to aninput unit such as a microphone.

Or the terminal may display the member list on a display unit(11), mayacquire an electromagnetic user input such as, e.g., an image of aniris, retina or eye, and may select a certain member as a labeledreceiver from a content window(19) displayed on a display unit(11). Forexample, the terminal may analyze the line of sight of a user who isstaring at a certain portion of the member list displayed on the contentwindow(19), may locate a certain member ID(17) of the member listcoinciding with the line of sight, and then select a member whose memberID is the above ID. The user may provide a certain user input to theterminal and may manipulate the terminal to acquire the line of sightand to analyze it. Alternatively, after displaying the member list onthe display unit, the terminal may then acquire the line of sight withina certain period of time, and then analyze the line of sight. In thelatter case, a user may just look at a certain member ID(17) of themember list within that period of time, without having to provide otheradditional user inputs to the terminal, thereby offering anotherconvenience to the user in selecting a labeled receiver.

The second exemplary embodiment of this fifth exemplary aspect relatesto the configurations and operational sequences of a terminal which mayallow a user to directly select a labeled receiver using a member listwhich is displayed on a content window. FIGS. 6E and 6F exemplifyvarious configurations or methods of selecting a labeled receiver in acontent window, while allowing a user to provide various user inputs bydirectly manipulating a hard or soft keyboard or other input units or bydirectly contacting a display unit.

The terminal(10) may include various hardware elements or softwareelements which may be identical or similar to those of the terminals ofFIGS. 6A to 6D and, thus, further explanations are omitted herein. Inaddition, a content window(19) displayed on a display unit(11) of theterminal of FIGS. 6E and 6F are similar or identical to that of FIGS. 6Ato 6D. Therefore, in order to create a content, a user may alsomanipulate the terminal(10) in the manner which is identical or similarto the manner for creating a content with the terminal of FIGS. 6A to6D. Thus, further details are omitted herein.

A user who drives the terminal of FIGS. 6E and 6F may select a single ormultiple members of a certain group as the labeled receivers in variousmethods before, during or after creating a content to be transmitted. Tothis end, a user may request to a terminal in various ways to display amember list(34A) on its display unit(11), where the member list(34A) mayinclude the member icons(32) or IDs(17) of multiple (or all) members ofthe group. The user may also provide such a request [1] by manipulatingat least one of the hard-button type input units(12A)(12B)(12C), [2] bymanipulating a soft keyboard or a hard keyboard(13), or [3] ahard-button or soft-button type arrow key(13A).

In response to the user input of the above paragraph, the terminal(10)displays the member list(34A) on the display unit(11). A user may thenselect a certain member included in the member list(34A) as a labeledreceiver [1] by pressing or contacting a member icon(32) or a memberID(17) of the certain member, [2] by manipulating a soft or hardkeyboard, or [3] by manipulating other input units.

The terminal(10) may display the member lists(34A) of various shapes ortypes on its display unit(11). For example, the terminal(10) of FIGS. 6Eand 6F may display the member list(34A) in one region of the displayunit(11) such as, e.g., a right side, a left side, an upper region, alower region or a center of the display unit(11), where the memberlist(34A) may display the member icons(23) or member IDs(17) of all (ormultiple) members in a vertical direction.

In the case of FIG. 6E, a user may press or contact the member icons(32)of two members, “Park” and “Kim23,” both of whom are listed at thebottom of the member list(34A) which is displayed in a contentwindow(19). When a user selects such members, the terminal(10) may alsoemphasize or highlight the member icons(32) of “Park” and “Kim23,”thereby allowing the user to readily confirm whether the selectedmembers are the ones whom the user intended to select.

The terminal(10) may display the member icons(32) or member IDs(17) inthe member list(34A) in various methods. For example, the terminal(10)may display the member IDs(17) or icons(32) in the order of the members'names, ID characters (e.g., English alphabets or Korean letters) ornumerals. Alternatively, the terminal(10) may display the member IDs(17)or icons(32) in their chronological order of joining the group. Or theterminal(10) may display the member IDs(17) or icons(32) in the order ofcontents as displayed in the content window(19).

However, when a certain group includes too many members, a terminal maynot be able to display the member IDs(17) or icons(32) of all members onthe member list(34A) displayed on the display unit. In such a case, theterminal(10) [1] may display the member IDs(17) or icons(32) in smallersizes in order to display as many member IDs(17) or icons(32) aspossible, or [2] may allow a user to scroll the member list(34A) in avertical direction when the user provides various certain user inputs.Or the terminal(10) may display the member IDs(17) or icons(32) inmultiple lateral or vertical rows or columns or in other arrangements.

When the user is finished with manipulating the member ID(17) or themember icon(32) and with selecting at least one labeled receiver, theterminal(10) may create a “label signal” which denotes the receiverlabeled by such manipulation. When the user completes creating a contentand then selecting a labeled receiver (or when the user completesselecting a labeled receiver and then creating a content), the user maypress, touch or otherwise manipulate the send button(13S). As a result,the terminal(10) or the app may create a “labeled data packet” which mayinclude the content created by the user, the “label signal” also createdby the user, a header, and a tail. In this respect, the label signal maybe deemed as the signal denoting which member of a certain group theuser selects as a labeled receiver. In this respect, the label signalmay be constructed in the form of a matrix or a database.

The terminal(10) may also run various operations for confirming thelabeled receiver or for confirming transmission of a certain content asexemplified in the above fourth exemplary aspect. After finishingvarious confirmation procedures, the terminal(10) may transmit thelabeled data packet to a (central) server, which may in turn transmitsuch a packet to all or certain members of the group.

After receiving the data packet, a terminal of a receiver may extract acontent from the data packet, and [1] may check whether the data packetincludes any label signal or [1] may confirm various features of thelabel signal. When the receiver is the labeled receiver (i.e., the labelsignal corresponds to the receiver), the terminal(10) may display thecontent as the labeled content. However, when the receiver is theunlabeled receiver (i.e., the label signal does not correspond to thereceiver), the terminal(10) may then display such a content as theunlabeled content.

The third exemplary embodiment of this fifth exemplary aspect relates tovarious configurations and operational sequences of a terminal which mayallow a user to directly select a labeled receiver using a member listwhich is displayed on a content window.

FIGS. 6G and 6H exemplify various configurations or methods of selectinga labeled receiver in a content window, while allowing a user to providevarious user inputs by directly manipulating a hard or soft keyboard orother input units or by directly contacting a display unit. Theterminal(10) of FIGS. 6G and 6H may also include various hardwareelements or software elements which may be similar or identical to thoseof FIGS. 6E and 6F and, therefore, further details are omitted herein.

In addition, a content window(19) displayed on a display unit(11) of theterminal of FIGS. 6G and 6H may be similar or identical to that of FIGS.6E and 6F. Therefore, in order to create a content, a user may alsomanipulate the terminal(10) in the manner which is identical or similarto the manner for creating a content with the terminal of FIGS. 6E and6F. Thus, further details are omitted herein.

A user who drives the terminal of FIGS. 6G and 6H may select a single ormultiple members of a certain group as the labeled receivers in variousmethods before, during or after creating a content to be transmitted. Tothis end, the user may provide a user input in various ways as explainedin FIGS. 6E and 6F. In response thereto, the terminal(10) may display amember st(34B) on its display unit(11), and a user may select a certainreceiver included in the member list(34B) as a labeled receiver [1] bypressing or touching a certain member icon(32) or ID(17) displayed inthe member list(34B), [2] by manipulating the member icon(32) or ID(17)using a hard keyboard or a soft keyboard, or [3] by manipulating themember icon(32) or ID(17) using other input units.

The terminal(10) may display on its display unit(11) a member list(34B)which has a different shape or a different type from that of FIGS. 6Eand 6F. For example, the terminal(10) of FIGS. 6G and 6H may display amember list(34B) in a certain region (e.g., a left side, a right side,an upper portion, a lower portion or a center) of the display unit(11),where the member list(34B) may display the member IDs(17) or membericons(32) of all (or multiple) members in a lateral direction.

For example, the terminal(10) of FIGS. 6G and 6H may display the memberlist(34B) above an input window(14). In FIG. 6G, a user may press ortouch the member icons(32) which are positioned in the middle and theright end of the member list(34B). The terminal(10) may highlight themember icons(32) of those two members, and the user may readily confirmwhether the selected members are the members whom the user has intended.

However, when a certain group has too many members to display theirmember IDs(17) or member icons(32) of all members on such a list(34B)displayed on the display unit, the terminal(10) may [1] display suchmember IDs(17) or member icons(32) in smaller sizes in order to displayas many IDs(17) or icons(32) as possible, or [2] allow a user to scrollthe member list(34B) in a lateral direction when the user providesvarious user inputs. Alternatively, the terminal(10) may display themember IDs(17) or icons(32) in multiple lateral or vertical rows orcolumns or in other arrangements.

As the user completes manipulating the member icon(32) or member ID(17)and selects a labeled receiver, the terminal(10) may create a “labelsignal” for denoting a labeled receiver using the same or similarmanipulations exemplified in FIGS. 6E and 6F, may also create variousdata packets, and may transmit the data packet to a receiver. It isnoted that the terminal(10) may perform various procedures to confirmthe labeled receiver or transmission of the content. Thereafter, theterminal(10) may transmit the labeled data packet to a server which maythen transmit the data packet to all (or certain) members of the group.

After receiving the data packet, a terminal of the receiver may extractthe content from the data packet and [1] may then check whether the datapacket includes a label signal or [2] may analyze the features of thelabel signal. When the terminal confirms that the receiver is thelabeled receiver (i.e., when the data packet may include the labelsignal or when the label signal may correspond to the receiver), theterminal(10) may display the content as a labeled content. But when theterminal confirms that the receiver is the unlabeled receiver (i.e.,when the data packet does not include a label signal or when the labelsignal does not correspond to the receiver), the terminal(10) may thendisplay the content as the unlabeled content.

The fourth exemplary embodiment of this fifth exemplary aspect relatesto various configurations and methods for a terminal which may allow auser to directly select a labeled receiver using a member list displayedin a content window. FIG. 6I exemplifies configurations and methods forselecting a labeled receiver in the content window, where a user mayprovide various user inputs by directly manipulating a hard keyboard, asoft keyboard or other input units or by directly touching a displayunit.

The terminal of FIG. 6I may include various hardware elements orsoftware elements which may be similar or identical to those of FIGS. 6Eand 6F and, therefore, further details are omitted. The contentwindow(19) which the terminal(10) displays on a display unit(11) may besimilar or identical to the content window of FIGS. 6E and 6F and,therefore, a user may manipulate the terminal(10) in such methods whichmay be similar or identical to those of the terminal of FIGS. 6E and 6F.Therefore, further details are omitted herein.

The user who drives the terminal of FIG. 6I may select at least onemember of a certain group before, during or after creating a content tobe transmitted. The user may also provide the user input in variousmethods exemplified in FIGS. 6E and 6F. In response thereto, theterminal(10) displays a member list(34C) on the display unit(11). Theuser may select a certain member who s included in the member list(34C)as the labeled receiver [1] by pressing or contacting a certain membericon(32) or member ID(17) in the member list(34C), [2] by manipulatingthe hard keyboard or soft keyboard, or [3] manipulating other inputunits.

The terminal(10) may display a member list(34C) of a shape or a typewhich may is different from those of the member lists(34A)(34B) of FIGS.6E to 6H. For example, the terminal of FIG. 6I may display the memberlist(34C) below an input window(14) which is displayed on a displayunit(11), where the member list(34C) includes the member icons(32) orIDs(17) of all (or multiple) members of the group. It is noted that themember list(34C) is typically similar to the member list(34B) of FIGS.6G and 6H. However, unlike the member list(34B) which is displayed abovethe input window(14), the member list(34C) of FIG. 6I may be displayedbelow the input window(14). Unlike the member list(34B) which lists themember icons(32) or IDs(17) in a single row, the member list(34C) ofFIG. 6I lists such icons(32) or IDs(17) in multiple rows.

When the display unit(11) is a touch-screen, the terminal(10) maydisplay the member icons(32) in locations where the terminal(10) maydisplay a soft keyboard(13). Alternatively, the terminal(10) may onlydimly display the soft keyboard(13), while displaying such membericons(32) over the soft keyboard(13). Or the terminal(10) may displaythe members' names or IDs in addition to the member icons(32).

However, when a certain group has too many members to display the memberIDs(17) or member icons(32) of all members on such a list(34C) displayedon the display unit, the terminal(10) may [1] display such memberIDs(17) or member icons(32) in smaller sizes in order to display as manyIDs(17) or icons(32) as possible, or [2] allow a user to scroll themember list(34C) in a lateral direction when the user provides varioususer inputs. Alternatively, the terminal(10) may display the memberIDs(17) or icons(32) in multiple lateral or vertical rows or columns orin other arrangements.

As the user completes manipulating the member icon(32) or member ID(17)and selects a labeled receiver, the terminal(10) may create a “labelsignal” for denoting a labeled receiver using the same or similarmanipulations exemplified in FIGS. 6E to 6H, may also create variousdata packets, and may transmit the data packet to a receiver. Details ofsuch creation or transmission of the contents and data packets aresimilar or identical to those of FIGS. 6E to 6H and, therefore, areomitted here.

The fifth exemplary embodiment of this fifth exemplary aspect relates tovarious configurations or operational sequences of a terminal which mayallow a user to directly select a labeled receiver by using a differentmember list displayed on a content window. FIGS. 6J and 6K exemplifyvarious configurations and methods of selecting a labeled receiver in acontent window by providing various user inputs by manipulating a soft(or hard) keyboard or other input units or by directly contacting adisplay unit.

The terminal of FIG. 6J may include various hardware elements orsoftware elements which may be similar or identical to those of FIGS. 6Eto 6I and, therefore, further details are omitted. The contentwindow(19) which the terminal(10) displays on a display unit(11) may besimilar or identical to the content window of FIGS. 6E to 6I and, thus,a user may manipulate the terminal(10) in such methods which are similaror identical to those of the terminal of FIGS. 6E to 6I. Therefore,further details are omitted herein.

The user driving the terminal(10) of FIG. 6J may select at least onemember of a certain group before, during or after creating a content tobe transmitted. The user may also provide the user input in variousmethods exemplified in FIGS. 6E to 6I, and the terminal(10) may displaya member list(34D) on the display unit(11), where the member list(34D)may display such member icons(32) or member IDs(17) along a periphery ofa circle or oval.

The user may select a certain member who is included in the memberlist(34D) as the labeled receiver [1] by pressing or contacting acertain member icon(32) or member ID(17) of the member list(34D), [2] bymanipulating the hard keyboard or the soft keyboard, or [3] bymanipulating other input units. When desirable, the terminal(10) mayconfigure the member list(34D) to rotate such that the user may readilyselect the certain member as the labeled member by rotating the memberlist(34D) in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

However, when a certain group has too many members to display the memberIDs(17) or member icons(32) of all members on such a list(34D) displayedon the display unit, the terminal(10) may [1] display such memberIDs(17) or member icons(32) in smaller sizes in order to display as manyIDs(17) or icons(32) as possible, or [2] allow a user to rotate themember list(34D) in a clockwise direction or in a counter-clockwisedirection when the user provides various user inputs, while arrangingthe terminal to display the member IDs or icons of other members whowere not included in the member list(34D) before the rotation. Theterminal(10) may display the member icons(32) or IDs(17) in multipleconcentric layers or in other arrangements.

The terminal(10) of FIG. 6K is similar to that of FIG. 6J, but includesa different member list(34D). For example, the terminal(10) of FIG. 6Kmay use the member list(34D) which displays the member icons(32) of themembers of a certain groups along a circular periphery, however, theterminal(10) displays the member icons(32) in an orientation which is ina point symmetry with respect to a center of the circle.

As the user completes manipulating the member icon(32) or member ID(17)and selects a labeled receiver, the terminal(10) may create a “labelsignal” for denoting a labeled receiver using the same or similarmanipulations exemplified in FIGS. 6E to 6I, may create various datapackets, and may transmit the data packet to a receiver. Details of suchcreation or transmission of the contents and data packets are similar oridentical to those of FIGS. 6E to 6I and, therefore, are omitted here.

The above terminals, labeled contents, or labeled icon badges of thefifth exemplary aspect may be also modified or varied in variousconfigurations or methods. Followings are various examples of suchmodifications or variations, where such modifications or variations [1]may be applied to modify or vary various embodiments or examples of thisfifth exemplary aspect, or [2] may be applied to modify or varydifferent embodiments or examples of different exemplary aspectsdescribed hereinabove or hereinafter. Except employing various memberlists, the modifications or variations of the fifth exemplary aspect aregenerally similar or identical to modifications or variations of theabove fourth exemplary aspect and, therefore, following modificationsand variations focus on major differences.

The first to third examples of such modifications or variations of thisfifth exemplary aspect relate to various configurations and methods ofcreating and using such label signals. For example, instead of the labelsignal in the form of a matrix or a database, the terminal may employ alabel signal which may be either “0” or “1.” Or the terminal may employ“2” in addition to “0” and “1” as the label signal. Or the terminal maycreate the “unlabeled data packet” which does not include a label signalin addition to the “labeled data packet,” and may transmit one or bothof such data packets to a receiver. Further details may be generallysimilar or identical to the first to third examples of the modificationsor variations of the fourth exemplary aspect and, therefore, are omittedhere.

The fourth example of such modifications or variations of this fifthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of creatingand using various contents, label signals, and data packets includingsuch contents and label signals. For example, the central (or local)server or terminal may store the content, label signal or (labeled orunlabeled) data packet with various methods. Further details may begenerally similar or identical to the fourth example of themodifications or variations of the fourth exemplary aspect and,accordingly, are omitted here.

The fifth and sixth examples of such modifications or variations of thisfifth exemplary aspect relate to various user inputs which the userprovides for selecting a labeled receiver. The user may select a labeledreceiver by providing various user input and, more particularly, theuser may select a labeled receiver by providing various mechanical,electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic or acoustic user inputs. Or theterminal(10) may proactively select a labeled receiver, even when theuser may not select a labeled receiver. Further details may be generallysimilar or identical to the fifth and sixth examples of themodifications or variations of the above fourth exemplary aspect and,therefore, are omitted here.

When a user knows a name, a nickname or other titles of a certainreceiver whom the user is going to label, the user may select at leastone member as a labeled receiver by speaking a name, a nickname or atitle of the member, even when a terminal does not display any memberlist on a display unit. Of course, the user may provide a certaincommand or may speak a word so that the terminal may display the memberlist on the display unit.

The seventh example of such modifications or variations of this fifthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of using “0”or “1” as the label signal. That is, the user may select multiplemembers of a certain group as the labeled receivers by using “0” or “1”as the label signal. When desirable, the terminal may also use “2,” “3”or other numerals so that the terminal may classify the receivers into 2types, 3 types, 4 types or more. The terminal may use such numeralsthemselves as the label signal or may include the numerals into a matrixor a database and then use the matrix or database as the label signal.Further details may be generally similar or identical to the seventhexample of the modifications or variations of the fourth exemplaryaspect and, therefore, are omitted here.

The eighth example of such modifications or variations of this fifthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of creatingand using the anti-label signal which corresponds to the opposite to thelabel signal. Thus, the terminal may create the anti-label signalinstead of the label signal, and then create the unlabeled data packetincluding the anti-label signal, instead of creating the labeled datapacket which includes the label signal. Further details may be generallysimilar or identical to the eighth example of the modifications orvariations of the fourth exemplary aspect and, therefore, are omittedhere.

The ninth example of such modifications or variations of this fifthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of sending thelabeled content or the labeled data packet only to the labeled receiver.For example, the user may transmit the labeled content and the labeleddata packet, not to all members of a certain group, but only to thelabeled receiver. Therefore, the terminal may block such unlabeledreceivers from even receiving the unlabeled data packet which includesthe unlabeled content. Other details may be generally similar oridentical to the ninth example of the modifications or variations of thefourth exemplary aspect and, thus, are omitted here.

The tenth example of such modifications or variations of this fifthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of sending thecontents or data packets without necessarily going through a server. Forexample, the user may change the settings of the terminal or may changethe network structure with the server, thereby transmitting the content,unlabeled data packet, labeled data packet, label signal, or the like,directly to other members. Other details may be typically similar oridentical to the tenth example of the modifications or variations of thefourth exemplary aspect and, therefore, are omitted here.

The eleventh example of such modifications or variations of this fifthexemplary aspect relates to the order in which the terminal displaysdifferent members in the member list. For example, the terminal maydisplay the member icons or IDs in the member list based upon [1] theorder of the members' names or ID characters (e.g., English alphabets orKorean letters), [2] the order of various numbers related to themembers, [3] the order of the time of joining a certain group, or [4]the order of the contents as displayed in the content window, i.e., fromtop to bottom or the order of reception of such contents. Or theterminal may display the member icons(32) or IDs(17) according to userpreference or in a reverse order of the user preference.

Various embodiments and examples of the above fifth exemplary aspect maybe interchangeable with the embodiments or examples of other exemplaryaspects. Therefore, as long as there is no contradiction, variousembodiments or examples of this fifth aspect [1] may also apply tocorresponding features of other embodiments or examples of this fifthaspect or other embodiments or examples of other aspects, [2] may beincorporated into corresponding features of other embodiments orexamples of this fifth or other aspects, [3] may replace correspondingfeatures of other embodiments or examples of this fifth or otheraspects, [4] may be replaced by corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of this fifth or other aspects, or [5] may becombined with corresponding features of other embodiments or examples ofthis fifth or other aspects.

The sixth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations and operational sequences for employing the informationanalysis algorithms and allowing the terminal to “proactively” select alabeled receiver, to create a label signal, and then to create a labeleddata packet which includes the content and the label signal. Asdescribed above, this is equivalent to “proactively” create a labelsignal, to select a labeled receiver, and then to create a labeled datapacket which includes the content and the label signal.

As discussed in the above sixth objective and as also exemplified in theabove fourth and fifth exemplary aspects, [1] a user may select alabeled receiver by providing various user inputs to a terminal, and theterminal may create a label signal based upon such selection, may createa labeled data packet including the label signal, and may then transmitthe data packet to all or some members of a certain group, or [2] a usermay create the label signal by supplying various user inputs to theterminal, and the terminal may select a certain labeled receiver basedon such selection, may create the labeled data packet including thelabel signal, and may transmit the labeled data packet to all (or some)members of the group. It is noted that the difference between the [1] or[2] of this paragraph is attributed to different perspectives and,therefore, the [1] and [2] of this paragraph are deemed to be identicalto each other in this disclosure.

The user may select the labeled receiver [1] by providing a user inputsuch as a movement or a gesture to a terminal or [2] by providingvarious electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic or acoustic user inputs tothe terminal. More particularly, the terminal may generate a labelsignal [1] by directly sensing such a movement or a gesturemechanically, electrically, magnetically, electromagnetically oracoustically, or [2] by electromagnetically acquiring a still image or avideo clip of such a movement of a gesture and then by analyzing theimage or video clip.

Alternatively, the user may create a label signal by providing aterminal with a user input which selects (or designates) a labeledreceiver or which creates a label signal. Or the terminal may create anunlabeled data packet which does not include the label signal, and [1]may not transmit the label signal but may transmit the unlabeled datapacket to all members of the group, or [2] may transmit both the labelsignal and the unlabeled data packet to the labeled receiver. Incontrary, the user may transmit the unlabeled data packet to all membersof the group, without providing a user input for selecting a labeledreceiver or without providing any user input for creating the labelsignal.

All of the methods which have been exemplified in the above threeparagraphs require a user to provide the user input to a terminal, i.e.,where a user may [1] select a labeled receiver or [2] create a labelsignal, by actively providing the user input to the terminal. Therefore,when a user transmits the unlabeled data packet to all (or some) membersof a certain group without creating a label signal (i.e., withoutactively selecting a labeled receiver), the terminals of those receiversmay display the content included in the unlabeled data pack as anunlabeled content.

Even when a user does not provide a user input for selecting a labeledreceiver or a user input for creating a label signal, a terminal mayproactively [1] select the labeled receiver or [2] create the labelsignal. This sixth exemplary aspect of this disclosure exemplifiesvarious configurations or methods for proactively creating a labelsignal by analyzing various contents with various prior art informationanalysis algorithms and for proactively creating a label signal. It isnoted that such contents may include a content [1] which is to betransmitted by a sender, [2] which has been transmitted by a sender, [3]which is to be transmitted by a server, [4] which has been transmittedby a server, or [5] which is received by a receiver.

To this end, the terminal may analyze whether any content described inthe above paragraph may include any information [1] which may designatea certain member of the group, [2] which may request or recommend themember to read or confirm the content, or [3] which may refer to anaction which the member has to take after reading or confirming thecontent. Examples of such information may include [1] a name, title,nickname or rank of the member, [2] a text, image or sound denoting themember, [3] a name, title or nickname of the task which the member hasto perform, or [4] a text, image or sound denoting the task. As used inthis disclosure, various information of this paragraph is to becollectively referred to as “label request information” hereinafter.Regardless of the types of the apps, groups or members, such labelrequest information may be those words, phrases or expressions includedin the content created by a sender or may be an image file or a soundfile included in or attached to the content.

The terminal may use various information analysis algorithms toproactively check whether a content which is being created by a user, acontent created by the user, or a content which is to be transmitted bythe user may include the “label request information.” Examples of theinformation analysis algorithms may include various prior art dataanalysis algorithms for or related to [1] AI, [2] machine learning, [3]deep learning, [4] natural language processing, [5] big data, [6] textanalysis, or [7] voice analysis.

When a terminal analyzes the user's content and confirms that a contentincludes the “label request information,” the terminal may then select alabeled receiver, create a label signal, and create a labeled datapacket including the content and label signal. Alternatively, theterminal may analyze an image or a sound attached to the user's contentwith the above information analysis algorithms, and checks for the“label request information.” Therefore, when the algorithm may confirmthat the image corresponds to a picture of a certain member, to a videoclip of the member, or to the member's name, title or nickname, theterminal may regard such information as the “label request information.”

Or the terminal may analyze the sound which is attached to the user'scontent using the information analysis algorithms. Upon finding that thesound corresponds to a certain member's voice or that the sound relatesto a certain member's name, title or nickname, the terminal may thenregard the sound as the “label request information.” Based thereupon,the terminal may select a labeled receiver, create a label signal, andthen create a labeled data packet including the content and the labelsignal.

Using the above information analysis algorithms, the user's terminal mayanalyze the content [1] which a user is creating, [2] which a usercompletes creating, or [3] which is to be transmitted. The terminal maycheck whether the content may include the “label request informationand, if it does, may regard the content as a labeled content. Once theterminal transmits the labeled data packet including the content and thelabel signal created based on the label request information, areceiver's terminal receives the labeled data packet and display thecontents included in such a packet as the labeled content.

In contrary, a user's terminal may analyze the received content usingthe above information analysis algorithms and check whether the receivedcontent includes the “label request information.” When the receivedcontent includes such information, the user's terminal may regard thecontent as the labeled content and may then display the content as thelabeled content on its display unit. In other words, the user's terminalmay run the “operation of proactively selecting a labeled receiver” withrespect to the content which the user may create or transmit or, whendesirable, may run the “operation of proactively confirming a labeledsender” with respect to the content received by a receiver's terminal.

As described above, the operation of proactively confirming a labeledsender offers additional benefits to a user. That is, when a sender [1]may make a mistake of not selecting a user as a labeled receiver whiletransmitting the content or [2] may not select the user as the labeledreceiver due to various limitations of the app implemented to a terminalof the sender, the user's terminal may analyze whether the receivedcontent corresponds to the labeled content when analyzed in theperspective of the user. Thus, the user may readily check for thelabeled content transmitted by the sender.

In other words, the user may render a terminal run an operation ofproactively confirming a labeled sender, regardless of an actual intentof a sender who transmitted the content. Thus, a user's terminal mayproactively confirm an unread content which the user may regard to beimportant or which may be presumed to be important by the user, and maydisplay such a content as a labeled content. As a result, the terminalmay offer the user with a benefit of confirming the content earlier thanlate or of not missing such a content.

To the contrary, even when a sender of a content may label the contentas a labeled content such that a user may confirm the content, aterminal of the user may run the operation of proactively confirming alabeled sender, thereby confirming whether the content may be the onewhich the user may regard to be important or which may be presumed to beimportant to the user. In other words, the user's terminal may providethe user with a benefit of choosing those contents which the user mayregard to be important and labeling such contents as the labeledcontents, regardless of the intent of the sender.

It is appreciated that the terminal of this sixth exemplary aspect maydrive various information analysis algorithms in various ways which areidentical to those of the terminals of the above fourth exemplaryaspect. However, the difference in the fourth and sixth exemplaryaspects is that the information analysis algorithms of the fourth aspectmay analyze the content which a sender transmits and which a userreceives, whereas the information analysis algorithms of the sixthaspect may analyze the content which the user creates and then transmits(or plans to transmit). Accordingly, except the content to be analyzed,the terminal may use the information analysis algorithms in the same wayin both the fourth and sixth aspects and, therefore, furtherexplanations are to be omitted.

FIGS. 7A and 7B exemplify various configurations or methods of selectinga labeled receiver and creating a label signal by confirming labelrequest information with a terminal even when a user may not activelycreate the label signal.

The first exemplary embodiment of this sixth exemplary aspect relates tovarious configurations or operational sequences for a terminal which mayproactively select a labeled receiver by analyzing various transmittedor received contents using various information analysis algorithms. Theterminal(10) of FIGS. 7A and 7B may include the hardware elements or thesoftware elements which may be identical or similar to those of FIGS. 6Ato 6K and, therefore, further details are omitted herein. In addition, auser may create a content in an input window(14) in various methodswhich may be similar or identical to those explained in FIGS. 6A to 6K.Thus, further details are omitted herein.

FIG. 7A exemplifies a case where a user drives a certain app and thenselects a certain group from a group window(15) displayed on a displayunit(11), where a terminal(10) displays a content window(19) on thedisplay unit(11) and then opens an input window(14) after a usermanipulates a soft keyboard or a hard keyboard(13), and where the usertypes in “Hey,” in the input window(14). At this moment, it may bepresumed that a user plans to transmit an unlabeled content to allmembers of the group. To the contrary, FIG. 7B exemplifies a case wherethe user types in “Cutie, did you finish that?” after the phrase “Hey,”and is about to provide the user input for manipulating a sendbutton(13S). Therefore, the user may send the content which reads “Hey,Cutie, did you finish that?” to all members of the group, withoutcreating a label signal which may specifically label a certain member ofthe group.

If the terminal(10) does not include (or use) any of the aboveinformation analysis algorithms, the user did not select any member asthe labeled receiver and, therefore, the terminal(10) has not receivedany label signal. Therefore, the terminal(10) may regard the content asan unlabeled content, and may transmit an unlabeled data packet whichincludes the unlabeled content to all members of the group.

However, when a terminal(10) of FIGS. 7A and 7B is implemented with theabove information analysis algorithms, the terminal(10) may easilyanalyze whether the content which the user has created, which the useris creating or which is ready for transmission may include the “labelrequest information,” thereby running an operation of proactivelyselecting a labeled receiver. For example, the terminal(10) of FIG. 78may recognize “Cutie” in the content and, utilizing various methods, maycheck whether “Cutie” corresponds to the label request information.

For example, using the above information analysis algorithm, theterminal(10) may check [1] whether “Cutie” may be one of the memberIDs(17) of the group, [2] whether “Cutie” may correspond to a nicknameor a short name of a certain member of the group by analyzing pastcontents of the group which have been exchanged among the members of thegroup, [3] whether “Cutie” may instead correspond to a name, a nicknameor a short name of a member of a certain group by analyzing pastcontents which have been exchanged among the members of the group oramong the members of all groups, or [4] whether “Cutie” may correspondto a name, a nickname or a short name of a member of a certain group ofa certain app by analyzing all data related to all apps implemented tothe user's terminal.

When the data analysis algorithms confirm, based on such analysis, that“Cutie” is not the label request information, the terminal(10) maycreate an unlabeled data packet which may include the content, a header,and a tail, and may transmit the data packet to the members of thegroup. However, when such algorithms confirm, based on such analysis,that “Cutie” corresponds to the label request information, theterminal(10) may select at least one labeled receiver based on the labelrequest information, and may create a label signal which may correspondto the labeled receiver.

Thereafter, using various methods as explained above, the terminal(10)[1] may include the content into a labeled data packet, and thentransmit the labeled data packet to all members of the group, [2] mayinclude the content into the labeled data packet, and then transmit thelabeled data packet to a certain labeled receiver of a certain group ofa certain app or to that labeled member of all the groups set up by thatapp, [3] may include the content into an unlabeled data packet, and thentransmit the label signal and the unlabeled data packet to all membersof a certain group established by a certain app or to all members of allgroups set up by the same app, [4] may include the content into anunlabeled data packet, and then transmit the label signal and unlabeleddata packet only to a labeled receiver of a certain group of a certainapp or to the labeled receiver of all groups set up by that app, or [5]may include the content into an unlabeled data packet, and then transmitthe label signal and the unlabeled data packet to all members of allapps implemented into the terminal.

The second exemplary embodiment of this sixth exemplary aspect exemplifydifferent configurations and operational sequences for a terminal whichmay proactively select a labeled receiver by analyzing various contentsusing various information analysis algorithms. For example, regardlessof a type of an app, a feature of a group, characteristics of themembers of the group, or the names or titles of the members of thegroup, a terminal(10) may search for the label request information byanalyzing a word, a phrase or an expression of the content created bythe user using such information analysis algorithms. In other words,even when a user does not actively create any label signal, a user'sterminal may run the operation of proactively selecting a labeledreceiver on a content which the user is creating or which the user isabout to transmit, thereby proactively selecting a labeled receiver andcreating a label signal which corresponds to the labeled receiver.

As described in the above paragraph, the terminal may proactively selecta labeled receiver by searching for a certain word, phrase or expressionincluded in a content created by a user. Or the terminal may proactivelyselect a member who cannot be a labeled receiver by searching for acertain word, phrase or expression included in a content created by auser as well. For example, when the group includes male and femalemembers, the information analysis algorithms may analyze the contentcreated by a male user. When the algorithm may find a word or asubstance which may disfavor a female member, the terminal may transmitthe content only to the male members while treating the content as alabeled content or as an unlabeled content, but may not transmit thecontent to the female members. In another example, when the groupincludes military members and civilian members, the algorithm mayanalyze the content created by a military member. When the algorithm mayfind secret military information, the terminal may regard the contenteither as a labeled content or an unlabeled content, and may thentransmit the content only to the military members but not to civilianmembers.

When the data analysis algorithm confirms the label request informationin a content created by the user, the terminal may select a labeledreceiver and then may create a label signal corresponding to the labeledreceiver. Or, using the aforementioned various methods, the terminal may[1] may include the content into the labeled data packet, and may thentransmit the labeled data packet to all members of a certain group setup by a certain app, [2] may include the content into the labeled datapacket and may then transmit the labeled data packet only to a labeledreceiver of the app, [3] may include the content into an unlabeled datapacket, and may then transmit the label signal and the unlabeled datapacket to all members of the group of the app, [4] may include thecontent into an unlabeled data packet and may transmit the label signaland unlabeled data packet only to the labeled receiver, or [5] mayinclude the content into the unlabeled data packet, and may thentransmit the label signal and the unlabeled data packet to all membersof the group of the app.

The above terminals, labeled contents, or labeled icon badges of thesixth exemplary aspect may be also modified or varied in variousconfigurations or methods. Followings are various examples of suchmodifications or variations, where such modifications or variations [1]may be applied to modify or vary various embodiments or examples of thissixth exemplary aspect, or [2] may be applied to modify or varydifferent embodiments or examples of different exemplary aspectsdescribed hereinabove or hereinafter.

The first example of such modifications or variations of this sixthexemplary aspect relates to the scope of confirmation as to the labelrequest information, where the terminal may search for the label requestinformation by analyzing various data stored inside or outside theterminal, using the aforementioned information analysis algorithms. Forexample, the terminal may analyze various data which may be related to acertain group set up by a certain app and which may be stored inside oroutside the terminal. In another example, the terminal may analyzevarious data related to all groups set up by the app and stored insideor outside the terminal. In yet another example, the terminal mayanalyze various data which may relate to that app or other apps whichmay be driven by a terminal and which may be stored inside or outsidethe terminal.

The second example of such modifications or variations of this sixthexemplary aspect also relates to the scope of confirmation as to thelabel request information. That is, although it may differ dependingupon the configuration or function of the terminal, or a configurationor function of a network, the terminal may generally search for thelabel request information by analyzing various data which are stored invarious locations, using the above information analysis algorithms.Accordingly, the terminal may analyze its own database, databases in acentral server or local server, or databased in a cloud storage. Or theterminal may also analyze [1] an external memory device which may beaccessed by the terminal wirelessly or through wire, or [2] otherdatabases accessible by an internet.

The third example of such modifications or variations of this sixthexemplary aspect relates to the terminal settings related to searchingfor the label request information. That is, even though a user does notcreate a label signal himself, a user may manipulate the settings of aterminal or an app so that the terminal may proactively search for thelabel request information from a certain content. For example,regardless of the app types, whenever the user creates a content, theuser may set up the terminal settings such that the terminal may searchfor the label request information on certain cases or in all cases.Alternatively, the user may manipulate the terminal settings so that,whenever the user creates a content with a certain app, the terminal maysearch for such information from the content on certain occasions or onevery occasion. Alternatively, the user may manipulate the terminalsettings such that, whenever the user may create a content in a certaingroup using a certain app, the terminal may search for the label requestinformation on every case or only on certain cases. Alternatively,regardless of the app type, the group type or the content type, the usermay manipulate the terminal settings such that whenever the user maycreate a content and then may attempt to transmit the content to acertain member (or transmit the content to the certain member), theterminal may search for such information from the content on alloccasions or only on certain occasions.

The fourth example of such modifications or variations of this sixthexemplary aspect relates to methods of creating and using a label signalbased on the confirmation of the label request information. That is,when the terminal confirms the label request information from thecontent which is to be transmitted, which is transmitted, or which isreceived by analyzing various data using the above information analysisalgorithms, the terminal may automatically create the label signal ormay create the label signal only upon confirmation by the user. Forexample, when the terminal confirms the label request information fromthe content created by the user, the terminal may then automaticallycreate the label signal correspond to that content.

Alternatively, when the terminal may confirm the label requestinformation from the user-created content, the terminal may request theuser to confirm, before creating the label signal corresponding to thatcontent. For example, the terminal(10) may display a confirmationwindow(38) on a display unit(11) as exemplified in FIG. 7B, therebyrequesting the user to confirm the selection of the labeled receiver orthe creation of the label signal. When the user presses “Yes” in theconfirmation window(38), the terminal may create the label signal, andmay transmit the content to various members in various methods asdescribed above. However, when the user presses “No” in the confirmationwindow(38) or may not press “Yes” in a certain period of time, theterminal may not create the label signal, may regard the content as theunlabeled content, and may then transmit the content to all members of acertain group.

Various embodiments and examples of this sixth exemplary aspects may beinterchangeable with other embodiments or examples of other aspectsdisclosed heretofore and hereinafter. Therefore, as long as theembodiments or examples may not contradict each other, such embodimentsor examples of this sixth aspect [1] may also apply to correspondingfeatures of other embodiments or examples of this sixth aspect or otheraspects, [2] may be incorporated into corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of the sixth or other aspects, [3] may replacecorresponding features of other embodiments or examples of this sixthaspect or other aspects, [4] may be replaced by corresponding featuresof other embodiments or examples of this sixth aspect or other aspects,or [5] may be combined with corresponding features of other embodimentsor examples of this sixth or other aspects.

3. Utilizing the Labeled Contents in the Perspective of the User

Various terminals of this disclosure may create a “label signal” and mayalso create a “labeled content” or an “unlabeled content” using thelabel signal. Various terminals of this disclosure may also createvarious data packets such as, e.g., a “labeled data packet” including alabeled content, or an “unlabeled data packet” including an unlabeledcontent, and may transmit or receive such data packets.

The unread contents generally refer to those contents which a user hasnot read or confirmed because the user has not run a certain app orbecause the user has not opened a certain group window that isestablished by the app. The unread contents may include [1] a labeledcontent and [2] an unlabeled content. Thus, when a numeral (i.e., anumber of contents which have not been read or confirmed by a user) forthe unread icon badge of the app or for the group is large, it may takea long time and lots of efforts on the part of the user to open and readall unread contents in order to find the unread labeled contents (evenif a number of the unread labeled contents may be small).

To resolve such inconvenience, various terminals of this disclosure mayallow a user to selectively read and confirm the unread labeled contentsfrom all unread contents by utilizing various features of the labeledand unlabeled contents or those of the label signals. To this end, whiledisplaying various contents in a content window, the terminal [1] maydisplay the unread labeled content as it is or with a highlight (i.e.,an emphasis), while simplifying or minimizing the unread unlabeledcontent, or [2] may display unread the labeled content as is or with ahighlight, while not displaying the unread unlabeled content. Thus, theterminal may get rid of or minimize any obstruction by the unlabeledcontents when the user searches for the labeled contents which are mixedwith the unread unlabeled contents in the unread contents, therebyoffering the benefit of allowing the user to more easily locate theunread labeled contents which are mixed with the unread unlabeledcontents.

In addition, all read contents may include the “read labeled contents”as well as the “read unlabeled contents”, where such read contents referto those contents which the user ran an app, opened a group window of acertain group established by the app, and a user has read or confirmed.Accordingly, when a number of such read contents is big, it may take along time and lots of efforts on the part of the user to re-read orre-confirm such read contents in order to find the read labeled contentsrelated to the user (even when a number of the read labeled contents maybe small).

Various terminals of this disclosure may allow a user to selectivelyread and confirm the read labeled contents in a content window from allread contents by using various features of the labeled and unlabeledcontents or those of the label signals. To this end, the terminal may[1] may display the read labeled content as it is or with a highlight,while simplifying or minimizing the read unlabeled content, or [2]display the labeled content as it is or with a highlight, while notdisplaying at all the unread unlabeled content.

Thus, the terminal may get rid of or minimize any obstruction by theread unlabeled contents when the user searches for the read labeledcontents, thereby offering a benefit of allowing the user to more easilylocate the read labeled contents. FIGS. 8A and 8B exemplify variousconfigurations or methods for selectively displaying the labeledcontents on the display unit.

It is noted that unread contents include unread unlabeled contents andunread labeled contents. For example, when N unread contents are allunread unlabeled contents, such unread contents include N unreadunlabeled contents and 0 unread labeled content. In contrary, when Nunread contents are all unread labeled contents, such unread contentsinclude 0 unread unlabeled content and N unread labeled contents. Withthis definition, the seventh exemplary aspect of this disclosure relatesto various configurations or operational sequences for selectivelydisplaying the unread unlabeled contents, by selectively simplifying,minimizing or omitting the unread unlabeled contents. That is, when auser may provide a proper user input, a terminal may display the unreadunlabeled content in a simplified or minimized format, while displayingthe unread labeled content as is or highlighted (i.e., emphasized). As aresult, the user may readily recognize the unread labeled content whichis included in the unread contents. For ease of illustration, unlessotherwise specified, an unread unlabeled content may be referred to asan “(unread) unlabeled content” or simply “unlabeled content,” whereasan unread labeled content may be referred to as an “(unread) labeledcontent” or simply “labeled content” hereinafter.

The first exemplary embodiment of this seventh exemplary aspect relatesto the configurations or operational sequences of displaying the unreadlabeled content in a format highlighted (i.e., emphasized) than theunread unlabeled content, when the unread content includes both of suchcontents. For example, upon receiving a certain user input, the terminalmay display an unread labeled content highlighted than an unreadunlabeled content in a content window provided in a display unit. FIG.8A exemplifies the configurations or methods for a terminal which maydisplay the unread unlabeled content as well as the unread labeledcontent, but highlight the unread labeled content.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the terminal(10) may display multiple appicons for multiple apps on its display unit(11) and display the unreadicon badges for such apps. A user may run an app of his choice bymanipulating various input units(12A)(12B)(12) or by manipulating an appicon displayed on a touch-screen type display unit(11). As theterminal(10) runs the app, the terminal(10) may display on the displayunit(11) a group window(15) of the app. As the user manipulates thegroup icon(16) of his choice from multiple group icons, the terminal(10)may display a content window(19) for the group on the display unit(11).The terminal(10) may display the unread contents in the contentwindow(19), where the content may not be displayed on the contentwindow(19) in the order of reception. To the contrary, the terminal(10)may display such contents in the order of the reception, with the mostrecently received content at the bottom.

Thereafter, the terminal(10) may highlight the unread labeledcontent(31L) which is included in the unread content and which isdisplayed in the content window(19) in various timings. In one example,whenever displaying the content window(19), the terminal(10) may displaythe (unread) unlabeled content(31N) as is, however, may highlight the(unread) labeled content(31L). In another example, after displaying thecontent window(19) on the display unit(11), the terminal(10) mayhighlight the labeled content(31L) when the user provides a certain userinput by manipulating a certain soft button or a certain hard button. Inanother example, before displaying the content window(19) on the displayunit(11), the terminal(10) may highlight the labeled content(31L) whenthe user provides a certain user input by manipulating a certain softbutton or hard button.

When the user provides an additional user input, the terminal(10) maycancel the highlighting on the labeled content(31L) and, therefore, theterminal(10) may equally display the labeled content and the unlabeledcontent, without any difference. Alternatively, the user may provideanother user input such as a certain movement, gesture or sound, therebystarting or stopping to highlight the labeled content(31L).

The terminal(10) may also highlight the labeled content(31L) in variousmodes. For example, the terminal [1] may highlight the labeledcontent(31L) in a certain font, color or thickness, [2] may highlight abackground of the labeled content(31L), [3] may display the labeledcontent(31L) bigger, or [4] may emphasize the labeled content(31L) inother modes. Alternatively, when the user manipulates a certain hard orsoft button again or when the user manipulates a different soft buttonor hard button, the terminal(10) may start to highlight or stophighlighting the labeled content(31L). As a result, the terminal(10) maydisplay the labeled content and the unlabeled content in the same modeor without any difference in the content window(19).

The second exemplary embodiment of this seventh exemplary aspect relatesto various configurations and operational sequences for simplifying orminimizing the (unread) unlabeled content, while displaying the (unread)labeled content as is or highlighted (or emphasized), when the terminaldisplays the unread contents which include the (unread) unlabeledcontent as well as the (unread) labeled content. For example, when theuser provides a certain user input, the terminal may minimize orsimplify the (unread) unlabeled content in the content window which isdisplayed on the display unit, while displaying the (unread) labeledcontent as is or highlighted. FIG. 8A exemplifies the configurations ormethods of highlighting, simplifying or minimizing various contents in acontent window.

The terminal(10) of FIG. 8B may display various app icons and unreadicon badges in those configurations or methods identical to those of thefirst embodiment of the seventh exemplary aspect. After the user runsthe app, the terminal may display a group window(15) of the app. Whenthe user selects a certain group, the terminal(10) may display a contentwindow(19) of the group.

The terminal(10) may selectively simplify or minimize the unlabeledcontent(31N) which is included in the unread contents displayed in acontent window(19). For example, the terminal(10) [1] may replace theunlabeled contents(31N) by various simplified marks(36) whenever theterminal(10) displays the content window(19), [2] may display thecontent window(19) and may replace the unlabeled content(31N) by thesimplified marks(36) whenever the user manipulates a certain soft buttonor a certain hard button, or [3] may replace the unlabeled content(31N)by the simplified marks(36) before the terminal(10) displays the contentwindow(19) on the display unit(11) and whenever the user manipulates acertain soft button or a certain hard button.

The terminal(10) may simplify or minimize the unlabeled content(31N) invarious methods. For example, the terminal(10) may [1] dimly display theunlabeled content(31N), [2] display the unlabeled content(31N) in asimplifying font, color or mode, [3] display the unlabeled content(31N)smaller, or [4] display the unlabeled content(31N) using a figure.

When the user may optionally manipulate the certain soft or hard buttonone more time or manipulate a different soft or hard button, theterminal(10) may stop such simplification or minimization and maydisplay the unlabeled content(31N) as is. As a result, the terminal(10)may display the labeled content and the unlabeled content in the samemode in the content window(19).

The third exemplary embodiment of this seventh exemplary aspectexemplifies various configurations or operational sequences for theterminal which may display the unread labeled content as is or highlightthe unread labeled content, but which may not display the unreadunlabeled content, when the unread contents include both the unreadunlabeled content and the unread labeled content.

Upon receiving a certain user input, the terminal may display the unreadlabeled content as is or with highlight, while not displaying the unreadunlabeled content in the content window displayed on the display unit.For example, the terminal(10) may display multiple apps and unread iconbadges together in those configurations or methods identical to those ofthe first embodiment of the seventh exemplary aspect. Thereafter, theterminal(10) may display the group window(15) of the app, and then thecontent window(19) of a certain group.

Among multiple unread contents displayed in the content window(19), theterminal(10) may selectively display the labeled content(31L) in variousmethods. In one example, the terminal(10) may only display the labeledcontent(31L) whenever displaying a content window(19). In anotherexample, the terminal(10) may display a content window(19) on a displayunit(11), and then only display the labeled content(31L) whenever a usermay manipulate a certain soft or hard button. In another example,whenever the user manipulates a certain soft button or hard buttonbefore a terminal(10) displays the content window(19) on the displayunit(11), the terminal(10) may only display the labeled content(31L).

The terminal(10) may display only the labeled content(31L) in variousmethods. In one example, the terminal may display such labeledcontents(31L) continuously or consecutively, without displaying anyunlabeled contents(31N) which have been received between such labeledcontents(31L). In another example, the terminal may display the labeledcontents(31L) but may also display gaps between such contents(31L) whenthere exist any unlabeled contents(31N) sandwiched between the displayedlabeled contents(31L) so that the user may easily learn the existence ofsuch unlabeled contents(31L). In another example, the terminal maydisplay such labeled contents(31L) but, when the terminal does notdisplay the unlabeled contents(31N) that are sandwiched between thedisplayed labeled contents(31L), the terminal may display those labeledcontents(31L) in different sizes, backgrounds, colors or fonts such thatthe user may easily learn the existence of such unlabeled contents(31L).

When the user may optionally manipulate a certain soft or hard buttononce more or manipulate a different soft or hard button, the terminalmay optionally display the unlabeled contents(31N) between the labeledcontents(31L), where such unlabeled contents(31N) have not beendisplayed before such manipulation. As a result, the terminal maydisplay the labeled content and the unlabeled content in the identicalmanner, without any difference.

Such terminals, labeled contents, and labeled icon badges of the seventhexemplary aspect may be also modified or varied in variousconfigurations or methods. Followings are various examples of suchmodifications or variations, where the modifications or variations [1]may be applied to modify or vary various embodiments or examples of theseventh exemplary aspect, or [2] may be applied to modify or varydifferent embodiments or examples of different exemplary aspectsdescribed hereinabove or hereinafter.

The first example of such modifications or variations of this seventhexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods ofsimplifying, minimizing or omitting the unread unlabeled content butdisplaying the unread labeled content as is or highlighted, while alsodisplaying the content which was transmitted by the user to a sender ofthe labeled content and which is the reason why the sender hastransmitted the labeled contents to the user.

For example, when a user receives a labeled content from a sender, auser's terminal may display the sender's labeled content on the displayunit as well as display another labeled or unlabeled content which theuser had transmitted to the sender in the past and which may be thereason why the sender transmits that labeled content to the user. Whenthe sender initiates the exchange of contents and, therefore, there doesnot exist any prior content which the user had sent to the member, theterminal may just display the content which the sender transmits to theuser.

Accordingly, the user may easily understand the reason why that sendersends a labeled content to the user and, based thereon, the user mayeffectively respond to the sender. In addition, when the sender sendsthe labeled content as a reply to another content which the user hastransmitted to the sender in the past, the user may readily learn thatthe user may not have to transmit a reply content to the sender.However, when the labeled content transmitted by the sender is not thereply to the user's past content, the user may easily learn that theuser may have to reply to the sender.

The second example of such modifications or variations of this seventhexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods ofsimplifying, minimizing or omitting the unlabeled content but displayingthe labeled content as is or highlighted, while also displaying all (orsome) labeled contents or all (or some) unlabeled contents which havebeen exchanged in the past between the user and sender.

For example, when a sender transmits a labeled content to a user, theterminal (or app) may display on its display unit all read contents aswell as all unread contents between the sender and the user. In thiscase, as to those contents which have been exchanged between the user(or sender) and other members, the terminal [1] may simplify or minimizesuch contents, or [2] may not display such contents. As a result, theuser may readily read or confirm all contents between himself and thesender.

When a labeled content transmitted to the user by a sender is a reply toan earlier content which the user had transmitted to the sender, theuser may choose to not reply to the sender's content. However, when thelabeled content is not the reply from the sender to an earlier contentwhich the user has transmitted to the sender, but a content whichinitiates the exchange of content between the user and sender, the usermay easily learn that he may have to transmit a reply content to thesender.

Various embodiments and examples of this seventh exemplary aspects maybe interchangeable with other embodiments or examples of other aspectsdisclosed heretofore and hereinafter. Therefore, as long as theembodiments or examples may not contradict each other, such embodimentsor examples of this seventh aspect [1] may also apply to correspondingfeatures of other embodiments or examples of this seventh or otheraspects, [2] may be incorporated into corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of this seventh or other aspects, [3] mayreplace corresponding features of other embodiments or examples of thisseventh or other aspects, [4] may be replaced by corresponding featuresof other embodiments or examples of this seventh or other aspects, or[5] may instead be combined with corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of this seventh or other aspects.

The eighth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations and operational sequences for displaying the unlabeledbut read contents, e.g., by selectively simplifying, minimizing oromitting (i.e., not displaying) the read unlabeled contents. Therefore,upon receiving a proper user input, the terminal may simplify orminimize the read unlabeled contents or even omit the read unlabeledcontents, while displaying read labeled content as is or highlighted(i.e., emphasized). As a result, the user may readily recognize the readlabeled content which is included in the read contents.

For example, upon receiving a proper user input, the terminal maydisplay the unread contents as well as the read contents on a displayunit, where such contents may include the unlabeled contents or labeledcontents. When the user provides an additional user input, the terminalmay display the unlabeled or labeled contents exchanged between at leasttwo members who are not the user. Accordingly, the user may be able toreadily read or confirm the unlabeled and labeled contents exchangedbetween such at least two members.

For example, the terminal may display multiple app icons and unread iconbadges as explained in the first embodiment of the seventh exemplaryaspect, may display a group window of the app, and may then display acontent window of a certain group. As also exemplified in variousembodiments of the seventh exemplary aspect, the terminal may displaymultiple unread contents as well as read contents in a content window.

Thereafter, when the user labels at least two members without creating acontent, as exemplified in the sixth exemplary embodiment, the terminalmay display various (read or unread) labeled or unlabeled contentsexchanged between the members in the past. In this case, the terminalmay simplify, minimize or omit other contents exchanged between the restof the members (except such at least two members).

In the alternative, the terminal may highlight or emphasize the contentsexchanged between those two members, while displaying other unlabeled orlabeled contents exchanged between the rest of the members as is orwithout any highlight. In addition, when the user may select more thantwo members, the terminal may selectively display those (read or unread)labeled or unlabeled contents that have been exchanged between suchthree or more members.

The terminal may perform the simplification, minimization or omitting ofthe read unlabeled contents independently or in conjunction with varioussimplification, minimization or omitting of the unread unlabeledcontents as exemplified in the above seventh exemplary aspect. Inaddition, upon request by the user, the terminal may selectively display[1] unread labeled contents, [2] unread unlabeled contents, [3] readlabeled contents, or [4] read unlabeled contents exchanged between suchmembers (except the user).

Various embodiments and examples of this eighth exemplary aspects may beinterchangeable with other embodiments or examples of other aspectsdisclosed heretofore and hereinafter. Therefore, as long as theembodiments or examples may not contradict each other, such embodimentsor examples of this eighth aspect [1] may also apply to correspondingfeatures of other embodiments or examples of this eighth aspect or otheraspects, [2] may be incorporated into corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of the eighth or other aspects, [3] may replacecorresponding features of other embodiments or examples of this eighthaspect or other aspects, [4] may be replaced by corresponding featuresof other embodiments or examples of this eighth aspect or other aspects,or [5] may instead be combined with corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of this eighth or other aspects.

4. Additionally Utilizing the Label Signals and the Labeled Contents

The ninth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or operational sequences of applying such label signals,labeled contents, and labeled icon badges to various apps other thansuch apps as, e.g., a SNS app, a messenger app, an e-mail app, agroupware software app, and the like.

Various exemplary aspects, their embodiments or examples explained aboverelate to various configurations or operational sequences of applyingvarious label signals, labeled contents, and labeled icon badges towired or wireless calling app, a SNS app, an e-mail app, a groupwaresoftware app, or a messenger app. For example, in the case of the wiredor wireless calling app, a terminal may represent a number of missedincoming calls using an unread icon badge. The terminal may search forthe label request information by analyzing a message left by a caller ofthe missed incoming call, or may search for the label requestinformation from a special code accompanied by the missed incoming call,whereby the terminal may display not only the unread icon badge but alsothe (unread) labeled icon badge.

As described above, the terminal may also display various informationwith the labeled icon badge. Examples of such information may include[1] a caller of the missed call, a caller's phone number, otherinformation of the caller, or a time of the missed call, [2] a number ofmissed calls for a certain period (or after a certain time), a caller, acaller's phone number, other information of the caller, or a time ofsuch a call, [3] a number of calls which a user answered for a certainperiod (or after a certain time), a caller, a caller's phone number,other information of the caller, or a time of such a call, [4] a numberof voice messages left to a user, a caller, a caller's phone number,other information of the caller, or a time of recording the message, or[5] information related to an operating status of a wired or wirelessphone, or malfunctions of the phone.

In particular, such labeled icon badges may serve as various pushnotifications [1] which may be limited to unread information (or relatedcontents) which the user have not yet confirmed or read. [2] which maybe limited to unread information (or relate contents) received after acertain time, or [3] which may relate to all read (i.e., confirmed)information (or related contents) received after a certain time.

In another example and in the case of a SNS app, a groupware softwareapp, a messenger app, an e-mall app, or the like, the terminal mayprovide various information (or related contents) to a user using theunread icon badge. Thus, in the case of a SNS app, the terminal mayrepresent a number of unread contents (i.e., unread messages in thiscase) using an unread icon badge, and also denote a number of unreadlabeled contents (i.e., labeled messages in this case) included in theunread contents using a labeled icon badge. The terminal may alsodisplay the aforementioned information exchanged through a SNS app asthe labeled content.

It is appreciated that various embodiments or examples of the abovefirst to eighth exemplary aspects of this disclosure generally relate toa SNS app which may be implemented into various data processingterminals of this disclosure. Accordingly, further details of applyingthe label signals, labeled contents, and labeled icon badges to the SNSapp are omitted herein.

In the case of a groupware software app, a messenger app, or an e-mailapp, a terminal [1] may represent a number of unread contents such asunread messages or unread e-mails using the “unread icon badge,” or [2]may represent a number (or a type) of unread labeled contents which maybe included in the unread contents using the “labeled icon badge.” Theterminal may also label various information which may be exchangedthrough a groupware software app, a messenger app or an e-mail app, asthe labeled content, i.e., labeled message.

Accordingly, various push information and various push notification fornotifying such push information for various communication apps such as,e.g., the SNS app, the groupware software app, the messenger app or thee-mail, app may be similar or identical to the push information or pushnotification for notifying such push information for the wired orwireless calling app. In addition, the terminal may create the labelsignals and labeled data packets which include such label signals, andtransmit or receive the packets or contents using the SNS app, thegroupware software app, the messenger app or the e-mail app in variousconfigurations or operational sequences which may be similar to thoseusing the wired or wireless calling app and, therefore, further detailsare to be omitted here.

As discussed above, various label signals, labeled contents, or labeledicon badges exemplified in the first to eighth exemplary aspects andtheir embodiments or examples may be applied to the SNS app, thegroupware software app, the messenger app or the e-mail app in the sameor similar configurations or methods. Following embodiments maygenerally relate to the applications of such label signals, labeledcontents or labeled icon badges to a scheduling app, an advertisementdisplaying app, an event notifying app, an alarm app, and the like.

The first exemplary embodiment of this ninth exemplary aspect relates tovarious configurations or methods for applying the label signal, labeledcontent or labeled icon badge to a scheduling app. More particularly, aterminal may apply various configurations or methods of the label signaland labeled icon badge of the first to eighth aspects of this disclosureto the scheduling app. FIGS. 9A and 9B exemplify various configurationsor methods for applying various label signals, labeled contents, andlabeled icon badges to a scheduling app.

The terminal of FIG. 9A displays an unread icon badge(21) as well as alabeled icon badge(23), one over the other, on the right side of ascheduling app or an app con (or its U/I)(20) of the app. The terminalmay display various information using such badges(21)(23). For example,the terminal may notify a user that he has seven schedules scheduled ona certain day (or within a certain period of time) using the unread iconbadge(21). Using the labeled icon badge(23), the terminal may notify theuser, e.g., that two schedules out of a total of seven schedules relateto [1] the meetings important to the user, [2] the meetings which theuser has called for, [3] the meetings in which the user is going topresent, or [4] the meetings which the user is in charge of. Thus, theuser may visually identify a number of schedules or various informationof the schedules, just by looking the labeled icon badge(23).

The terminal of FIG. 9B displays an unread icon badge(21) on the rightside of an app icon(20). The terminal may also display multiple labeledicon badges(23A)(23B)(23C) around the app icon(20). In particular, theterminal may manipulate backgrounds of the labeled iconbadges(23A)(23B)(23C) and deliver various information. For example, theterminal may manipulate the background of the labeled icon badge(23A)[1] to be darker, thereby denoting a work-related schedule, [2] to havea hatch pattern, thereby denoting a medical- or health-related schedule,or [3] to have diagonal lines, thereby denoting family-relatedschedules. Thus, the user may easily recognize a number or a type ofsuch schedules just by looking at the background, size, shape, color orposition of the icon badge.

The terminal may also provide various push information about variousschedules in the form of push notifications by manipulating, e.g.,various features of the labeled icon badges such as, e.g., its size,shape, position, color, or number. The push information may includevarious contents such as, e.g., [1] a number of imminent schedules, itstime, its location, or its participants, [2] a number of confirmedschedules, its time, its location, or its participants, [3] a number ofconfirmed schedules which the user has not attended, its location, itstime, its participants or its agenda, or [4] a number of schedules inwhich the user has a special task to perform, its time, or its location.As a result, the terminal may display at least one of various pushinformation as described above using the labeled icon badges(23A). Theuser or the terminal may limit such push information to [1] unreadinformation (or related contents) which the user has not read orconfirmed, or [2] all unread and read information (or related contents)received after a certain time.

A variety of subjects may create the labeled content related to thescheduling app. For example, a certain member of a certain group set upby a certain app may decide a certain schedule, may label the scheduleas a labeled content, and may transmit the content to a user. Or theuser may determine the schedule, may label the schedule as a labeledcontent, and may then transmit the labeled content to all members of thegroup, including himself. Or the terminal may receive the schedule fromthe user or another member of the group, may analyze the schedule itselfor other information related to such a schedule using variousinformation analysis algorithms, and may then transmit the content tothe user as the labeled content, when the terminal may regard theschedule to be important to the user.

Based on the analysis by the information analysis algorithm, when theterminal determines that a certain schedule is deemed to be notimportant, the terminal may display the schedule as an unlabeledcontent. When the terminal determines that a new schedule may conflictwith an existing schedule (e.g., the new schedule may overlap theexisting schedule or may render a user unable to attend the existingschedule), the terminal [1] may deem the new schedule as the one whichthe user does not have to attend, and label it as an unlabeled schedule,or [2] may display the new schedule as a label schedule so that the usermay adjust his schedule.

As described hereinabove, classifying an unread content into either an(unread) labeled content or an (unread) unlabeled content is in generalrelative in its nature. Therefore, when a terminal proactively selects alabeled content using various information analysis algorithms, theterminal may employ various standards for such classification, whereexamples of such standards may include [1] the user preference, [2] theuser's past life pattern, [3] various contents transmitted or receivedby the user, [4] only labeled contents related to the user, or [5] aterminal setting. When a terminal proactively creates a labeled content,the terminal may also create various visual, audible, or tactile signalsand use such signals to ask the user to confirm the labeling of such acontent. Various configurations of this paragraph may be applied toother embodiments of this ninth exemplary aspect as well as to otherembodiments or examples of other exemplary aspects.

The second exemplary embodiment of this ninth exemplary aspect relatesto various configurations and methods for applying the label signal,labeled content or labeled icon badge to an advertisement (to beabbreviated as an “ad” hereinafter) displaying app. In particular, aterminal may apply various configurations and methods of the labelsignal and labeled icon badge of the first to eighth aspects of thisdisclosure to the ad displaying app. FIGS. 9C and 9D exemplify variousconfigurations and methods for applying various label signals, labeledcontents, and labeled icon badges to an ad displaying app.

The terminal of FIG. 9C displays an unread icon badge(21) as well as alabeled icon badge(23), one over the other, on the right side of an appor an app icon (or its U/I)(20) of the app, and display variousinformation in various configurations or methods. For example, using theunread icon badge(21), the terminal may notify a user [1] that a totalof twenty-three items are on sale on that day (or for a certain periodof time), [2] that twenty-three merchandises which the user ordered arenow ready for purchase or delivery, [3] that twenty-three merchandiseswhich are similar or identical to the merchandise to which the usershowed interest are ready for purchase or delivery, or that twenty-threenew merchandises are ready for purchase.

With the unread icon badge(21), the terminal may notify the user of anunread content which an ad provider has transmitted, regardless of theuser's request or interest. That is, the terminal may notify the userwith the unread icon badge(21) [1] that there are twenty-three unreadcontents which the ad provider transmitted regarding merchandises, [2]that there are twenty-three unread contents which the ad providertransmitted but which are not related to merchandises, or [3] that thereare twenty-three coupons sent by the ad provider.

In addition, by displaying a labeled icon badge(23), a terminal mayprovide the user with information which is different from theinformation which may be provided by the unread icon badge(21). Forexample, with the labeled icon badge(23), the terminal may notify theuser [1] that two sales out of twenty-three planned for the day (orwithin a certain period) offer a significantly huge discount, [2] thattwo out of twenty-three merchandises which the user may order are thoselisted in the user's preference, or [3] that, out of twenty-threeon-going sales, two sales end on the day (or on a certain day).Therefore, based on the labeled icon badge(23), the user may be able toeasily recognize the merchandises or sales which the user is interestedin or which the ad provider is offering.

The terminal of FIG. 9D displays multiple labeled iconbadges(23A)(23B)(23C) around the app icon(20), without displaying anyunread icon badges(21). The terminal may display the labeled iconbadge(23A)(23B)(23C) of different shapes. For example, a numeral of thelabeled icon badge(23A) may notify the user that the discount rate is83%, the labeled icon badge(23B) denotes that the discount is for thecash sales, and the labeled icon badge(23C) represents that the priceafter the discount is $723 or that the discount is $723. Thus, the usermay easily recognize an extent of the discount, a sales period or amerchandise price, just by looking at the size, shape, color, positionor background of the labeled icon badges(23A)(23B)(23C).

The terminal may also provide various push information about various adsin the form of push notifications by manipulating, e.g., variousfeatures of the labeled icon badges such as, e.g., its size, shape,position, color, or number. The terminal may deliver various contents inthe form of push information, where examples of such contents mayinclude, e.g., [1] a message including a character, a symbol or a textrelated to an ad, a number of such messages, its sender, or its time ofreception, [2] a number of image files related to the ad, a sender ofsuch files, or a reception time, [3] a number of sound files related tothe ad, a sender of such files, or a reception time, [4] a merchandiserequested or reserved by a user, a number of ads for certain services,an ad sender, or a time of reception, [5] a number of ads includingspecial sales or other benefits, an ad sender, or a time of reception,[6] a number of ads related to the user preference, an ad sender, or atime of reception, or [7] a number of ads which are related to a user'scurrent location, a destination of the user who is on the move, a futurelocation of a user based on his or her schedule, an ad sender, or a timeof reception. From such information, the user or the terminal may alsolimit such push information to [1] unread information (or relatedcontents) which the user has not read or confirmed, [2] all unreadinformation (or related contents) received after a certain time, or [3]all unread and read information (or related contents) received after acertain time.

A variety of subjects may create a labeled content related to the addisplaying app. For example, a certain member of a certain group set upby a certain app may decide a certain ad, may label the ad as a labeledcontent, and may then transmit the content to a user. In thealternative, when the user may select a certain merchandise in thegroup, a merchandise provider (e.g., a merchant or his website) mayselect a content related to the merchandise, may label the content as alabeled content, and may transmit the labeled content to the user. Orthe terminal may receive the content transmitted by the merchant or hiswebsite, may analyze the content using various information analysisalgorithms, and may create the content as the labeled content when thecontent is deemed to be important to the user.

Instead of displaying a labeled content which is related to an ad andwhich is transmitted by a provider of the ad, a terminal may use theinformation analysis algorithm and may determine whether such a labeledcontent may be the one which a user is needed to confirm. For example,the terminal may analyze the user preference, past purchase history, orcontents transmitted by the user. Based on such analysis, the terminalmay display the content as the labeled content, as the unlabeledcontent, or as a spam ad.

The terminal may instead analyze the user's activity or circumstances inthe SNS app, groupware software app, messenger app, e-mail app, eventnotifying app, alarm app or other apps implemented to the terminal, mayselect an ad related to the activity or circumstance, and may directly(or via the ad displaying app) display the ad as the labeled content tothe user. For example, when the user happens to be in an emergency andhas to visit an hospital, the terminal may display the labeled contentsuch as an ad which is related to [1] a doctor or a hospital which theuser may visit or [2] a treatment which the user may need.

As described hereinabove, classifying an unread content into either an(unread) labeled content or an (unread) unlabeled content is in generalrelative in its nature. Therefore, when a terminal proactively selects alabeled content using various information analysis algorithms, theterminal may employ various standards for such classification, whereexamples of such standards may include [1] the user preference, [2] theuser's past purchase history, [3] a terminal setting, [4] a status ofmerchandise stock or distribution, or [5] other databases. The terminalmay create a labeled content, and may ask the user to confirm. To thisend, the terminal may generate various visual, audible, or tactilesignals. Various configurations of this paragraph may also be applied toother embodiments of this ninth exemplary aspect as well as to otherembodiments or examples of other exemplary aspects.

The third exemplary embodiment of this ninth exemplary aspect may relateto various configurations or methods for applying such label signals,labeled contents or labeled icon badges to an event notifying app. Inparticular, a terminal may apply various configurations and methods ofthe label signal and labeled icon badge of the first to eighth aspectsof this disclosure to various event notifying apps. FIGS. 9E and 9Fexemplify various configurations and methods for applying various labelsignals, labeled contents, and labeled icon badges to an event notifyingapp.

The terminal of FIG. 9E displays an unread icon badge(21) as well as alabeled icon badge(23), one over the other, on the right side of an appicon. The terminal may deliver various information to a user by usingvarious configurations of such badges(21)(23) or methods of using thebadges(21)(23). For example, with an unread icon badge(21), the terminalmay notify a user [1] that twenty-three events related to the user'stask have happened, [2] twenty-three events which are of the typeslabeled by the user have happened, or [3] that twenty-three eventsrelated to the group to which the user belongs have happened.

Using the labeled icon badge(23), the terminal may provide a user withinformation which may be different from the information provided by theunread icon badge(21). For example, with the labeled icon badge(23), theterminal may notify a user that [1] two events out of twenty-threeevents may be directly related to the user's business, [2] two eventsout of twenty-three events may be crucial to the user, or [3] it may belikely that two events which may be related to the user's business orwhich may be important to the user may happen as a result of suchtwenty-three events. Therefore, by looking at the labeled iconbadge(23), the user may easily recognize the information regarding anumber or a type of events which he is interested in or which may berelated to his business. In addition, when the terminal displays the appicon(20), the terminal may also display an image related to the event.For example, the terminal of FIG. 9E may display an image of fire insidethe app icon, thereby visually notifying that the unread content isrelated to the fire.

FIG. 9F may relate to various configurations or methods for a terminalwhich may display multiple labeled icon badges around or inside an appicon, while not displaying an unread icon badge. The terminal maydisplay multiple labeled icon badges(23A)(23B)(23C) which may havedifferent shapes or sizes. For example, a numeral of the labeled iconbadge(23A) may denote that an interest rate increased by 0.5%, thelabeled icon badge(23B) may notify the user that the interest rate hikeresulted (or may result) in changes in bond prices, and the labeled iconbadge(23C) may notify the user of the change (or an expected changes) instock price. Thus, the user may readily recognize the number or type ofsuch events by observing a size, a numeral, a shape, a color, a locationor a background of the labeled icon badge.

The terminal may provide various push information about various eventsin the form of push notifications by manipulating various features ofthe labeled icon badges such as, e.g., its size, shape, position, color,or number. The push information may include various information such as,e.g., [1] a number or a type of a certain event selected by the user,[2] a number or a type of a character, a symbol, or a text related to acertain event, [3] a number or a type of an image file or a sound filerelated to a certain event, [4] a location or a time of a certain event,[5] a number or a type of characters, symbols or texts related toeconomic or political events which may induce a certain event, or [6] anumber of an image file or a sound file related to the information ofthe [5] of this paragraph.

Other examples of such events may also include [1] those events relatedto health or safety of the user, [2] economic events which may relate tothe user's investment in stocks, bonds or real estate, [3] those eventsrelated to the user's business, or [4] those events related to the user,the user's family, or the user's friends. In addition, the user or theterminal may also limit such push information to [1] unread informationwhich the user has not read or confirmed, or [2] all unread and readinformation received after a certain time.

Various subjects may create the labeled content related to the eventnotifying app. For example, a certain member of a certain group set upby a certain app may decide a certain event, may label the event as alabeled content, and may then transmit the content to a user. Or theterminal may receive various contents from various media, news provideror news websites, may analyze the contents using various informationanalysis algorithms, and may then create the contents into the labeledcontents. In the alternative, the terminal may connect to various media,news provider or news website, may search for the contents which may beimportant to the user using various information analysis algorithms, andmay then create the labeled contents.

As described hereinabove, classifying an unread content into either an(unread) labeled content or an (unread) unlabeled content is in generalrelative in its nature. Therefore, when a terminal proactively selects alabeled content using various information analysis algorithms, theterminal may employ various standards for such classification, whereexamples of such standards may include [1] a user's occupation, [2] auser's preference, [3] a user's past experience related to such anevent, [4] various contents or labeled contents related to the user, or[5] a terminal setting. When a terminal proactively creates a labeledcontent, the terminal may also create various visual, audible, ortactile signals and use such signals to ask the user to confirm thelabeling of such a content. Various configurations of this paragraph maybe applied to other embodiments of this ninth exemplary aspect as wellas to other embodiments or examples of other exemplary aspects.

The fourth exemplary embodiment of this ninth exemplary aspect mayrelate to various configurations or methods for applying the labelsignals, labeled contents or labeled icon badges to an alarm app. Moreparticularly, the terminal may display various push information aboutvarious alarms in the form of push notification by manipulating variousfeatures of the labeled icon badge such as, e.g., its size, its shape,its position, its color or its number. Examples of such push informationmay include [1] a number of alarms which have been set by a user, [2] anumber of imminent alarms, a time or a place of an appointment relatedto the alarm, or its participants, [3] a number of appointments whichthe user failed to attend and which are related to the alarm, the place,the time, or its participants, or [4] a number of appointments in whichthe user have a certain task and which are related to the alarm, theplace, the time, or its participants. A user or the terminal may limitsuch push information to [1] the unread information (or relatedcontents) which the user has not read or confirmed, or [2] all unreadand read information (or related contents) received after a certaintime.

The fifth exemplary embodiment of this ninth exemplary aspect relates tovarious configurations or methods for applying the label signal, labeledcontent or labeled icon badge to various control apps for the aboveelectrical or electronic devices (to be referred to as “device”hereinafter). Examples of such “devices” may include, but not be limitedto, [1] data processing terminals such as a mobile phone or asmart-phone, [2] wired or wireless communication devices such as amobile pad, a web pad, a personal digital assistant, a wired phone, aninter-phone, a wireless communication device, a wired or wireless dataprocessing device, or a computer, [3] wired or wireless data processingunits of various devices such as a building, a vehicle, a vessel, asubmarine, an airplane, a helicopter, a robot or a drone, [4] variouscommunication units or control units of such “devices,” [5] variouscontrol units or data processing units of a network of an IoT (i.e., aninternet-of-things), or [6] control units or data processing units ofvarious electrical or electronic devices that may be connected to theIoT network. Thus, the user may be able to more effectively control such“devices” of the [1] to [6] of this paragraph by driving various appswhich are implemented into the terminal and by utilizing the above labelsignals, labeled contents or labeled icon badges.

When a terminal is coupled to various devices of the [3] to [6] of theabove paragraph wirelessly or through wire, a user may manipulate histerminal, thereby manipulating the devices wirelessly or through wirewith the terminal. Alternatively, the user may releasably couple aterminal to the devices of the [3] to [6] of the above paragraph, andmay manipulate such devices by manipulating the terminal. In thealternative, the user may manipulate the control units or dataprocessing units of various devices of the [3] to [6] of the aboveparagraph with a terminal wirelessly or through wire, therebymanipulating such devices using the terminal. Therefore, the terminal,the above units, the above devices may use the label signal, the labeleddata packet, and the labeled icon badge, thereby transmitting the uservarious contents [1] which may be related to the manipulation of suchdevices or [2] which may be related to the operating status of suchdevices.

Or the user may utilize various examples of the above paragraph in anopposite way such that a user may receive various contents which arerelated to the labeled signal, labeled data packet or labeled icon badgefrom such devices or such units. Thereafter, the terminal may run acertain operation based on the labeled content or may transmit thelabeled content to another member.

It is appreciated that the above “building” may collectively refer to aresidential building, a commercial building, a smart building, a smartfactory, or the like. A data processing unit of the building maycorrespond to a unit which may perform surveillance or control [1]opening or closing an entrance, an exit or another door, [2] atemperature or humidity, [3] a fire alarm system, [4] a power supplysystem, or [5] a hot or cool water supply system, where suchsurveillance or control may be for an entire building or a portion(e.g., a certain space, room, floor, entrance, emergency exit, orstairs) of the building.

It is appreciated that the above “vehicle” may collectively refer to adriverless vehicle or a manned vehicle. In addition, a data processingunit of the vehicle may be a unit which may perform surveillance orcontrol of [1] opening or closing doors of an entire portion or only aportion (e.g., an interior or a frame) of the vehicle, [2] turning on oroff an engine or a motor, or [3] an operating status of another part ofthe vehicle. The vehicle may employ a source of energy as gasoline,diesel, hydrogen, electricity, fuel cell, or sunlight and, therefore,such a vehicle may include a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle may also run ontwo wheels, three wheels, four wheels or more or may also run withoutany wheels, e.g., a caterpillar vehicle.

It is appreciated that the above “robot” may collectively refer to anindustrial robot, a military robot, or a personal robot. The “robot” mayinclude its own transportation means and, therefore, may move.Alternatively, the “robot” may not include any transportation means. Inaddition, the “robot” may be a passive robot which may be manipulated bya user and, without any command from the user, may not run anyoperation. In contrary, the “robot” may be an active robot which may runvarious operations and perform various functions without or with theuser command. Alternatively, the “robot” may be in-between the aboveactive and passive robot in such a way that the robot may run someoperations without any user command but may run other operations onlywith the user command. Whichever type the robot may be, the terminal,user or robot may create various contents, may deliver such contents inthe form of the unlabeled or labeled data packets among each other, andmay utilize the label signal, unread icon badge or labeled icon badge.

Similarly, the above “drone” may collectively refer to an industrialdrone, a military drone or a personal drone. The drone includes its owntransportation means such as at least one propeller or an engine,thereby generating a lift-off force and navigating in every direction.The “drone” may be a passive drone which may be manipulated by a userand, without any command from the user, may not travel in the air or maynot run any operation. In contrary, the “drone” may be an active dronewhich may travel in the air, run various operations, and perform variousfunctions without or with the user command. Alternatively, the “drone”may be in-between the above active and passive drone in such a way thatthe drone may navigate (or run some operations) in some circumstanceseven without any user command, but may only navigate (run otheroperations) only with the user command. Whichever type the drone may be,the terminal, user or drone may create various contents, may deliversuch contents in the form of the unlabeled or labeled data packets amongeach other, and may utilize the label signal, unread icon badge orlabeled icon badge.

FIGS. 9G to 9N exemplify various configurations or methods for applyingvarious label signals, labeled contents or labeled icon badges tovarious terminals or devices as defined in this fifth embodiment of theninth exemplary aspect of this disclosure.

The first example of this fifth exemplary embodiment of this ninthexemplary aspect may relate to various configurations or methods forapplying such label signals, labeled contents or labeled icon badges tovarious data processing units which may run surveillance or controloperations of opening or closing doors or windows, or of checking anoperational status of an entire (or only a) portion of a vehicle (e.g.,a driverless vehicle or a manned vehicle). For ease of illustration, thefollowing example relates to an operation of an entire vehicle. FIGS. 9Gand 9H exemplify various configurations and methods for applying variouslabel signals, labeled contents, and labeled icon badges to a vehiclecontrol app.

The terminal of FIG. 9G may display an unread icon badge(21) and alabeled icon badge(23) around an app icon(20) for manipulating orcontrolling a manned vehicle or a driverless vehicle. For example, aterminal may display multiple sub-app icons(20S) along with an appicon(20) in order to notify a user that a right headlight and a leftfront wheel may need a maintenance. The terminal may display the sub-appicon(20S) as the U/I on a display unit so that, when the usermanipulates the sub-app icon(20S), the terminal may provide detailedinformation about a status or maintenance of such parts of the vehicle.

The terminal may provide additional information using an unread iconbadge(21) or a labeled icon badge(23), where examples of suchinformation may include [1] information of a status of each part of thevehicle after the user has finished manipulation of the vehicle, [2]information which the user may confirm before resuming the manipulationof the vehicle, [3] information required to reach a destinationaccording to a user's schedule if the user resumes the manipulation ofthe vehicle, [4] information as to where the user parked the vehicle,[5] information about a schedule of a certain day which has been storedto a vehicle control app by the user or which is obtained throughsynchronization with a scheduling app, and an operation plan of thevehicle based on the daily schedule, or [6] information about trafficviolations or tickets which the user committed and collected.

More particularly, the information of the [1] of the above paragraph mayinclude an amount of remaining fuel or battery, a travel distance thatcan be attained by such an amount, a status of tires or other parts ofthe vehicle, or a travel record of the past day. The information of the[2] of the above paragraph may include [1] the information of the [1] ofthe above paragraph, [2] a schedule of the new day, [3] a transportationplan of the new day, or a part which may need maintenance or repair. Theinformation of the [3] of the above paragraph may include a schedule forthe travel destinations, an agenda or participants of the schedule, anaddress of the destination, or various routes to get to the destination.

The unread labeled content may relate to [1] a content transmitted by amanned vehicle or a driverless vehicle, [2] a content which the vehicletransmitted to a user as a reply to an earlier content transmitted bythe user to the vehicle, [3] a content which one unit of the vehicletransmits to another unit of the vehicle and to the user, [4] thecontent which the vehicle labels the user as the labeled receiver, whilesending the same content to another unit of the vehicle, or [5] thecontent which the vehicle labels the user as the labeled receiver butwhich is not transmitted to other units of the vehicle.

Even when the vehicle does not generate a label signal, the unreadlabeled content may be the content [1] from which the terminal mayextract (or already extracted) a “label request information” usingvarious information analysis algorithms, or [2] where, based on theanalysis results from using the information analysis algorithms, theterminal may determine that the need for the user to read or confirm acertain content may be greater than the need to confirm an unreadunlabeled content.

As explained above, the terminal may display various information byusing the labeled icon badge(23) which may be different from thatdisplayed by the unread icon badge(21). To this end, the terminal maymanipulate a size, a shape, a color, a position, a background or anumeral of the labeled icon badge(23) to be different from that of theunread icon badge(21). Therefore, the user may easily and visuallyrecognize the size, shape, color, position, background or numeral,thereby readily recognizing the status of the vehicle, a number or atype of operations which the user may check or confirm.

While the app icon of FIG. 9G shows an icon for the vehicle control appin a state in which the user finished manipulation of the vehicle, theapp icon of FIG. 9H may be regarded as the vehicle control app in astate where the user is currently manipulating the vehicle. The terminalof FIG. 9H displays a total of three unread icon badge(221A)(21A)(21B)together with a labeled icon badge(23) around the app icon(20), wherethe unread icon badge(21) displays “2+1.” The unread icon badge(21) maydisplay a variety of information, but the unread icon badge(21) in FIG.9H is deemed to represent that a user has two unread unlabeled contentsas well as one unread labeled content.

More particularly, the terminal of FIG. 9H may visually display variousinformation using the unread icon badge(21A)(21B) positioned around theapp icon(20). For example, the unread unlabeled icon badge(21A)represents that the location is the user's favorite law firm, while theunlabeled icon badge(21B) may inform the user that a parking space isavailable. In contrary, the unread labeled icon badge(23) may displayinformation which has a greater need for the user to confirm or decidethan the information represented by the unlabeled icon badge(21A)(21B).For example, the terminal may use the labeled icon badge(23) to ask theuser whether to make a left turn or a right turn in an upcomingintersection.

The second example of this fifth exemplary embodiment of this ninthexemplary aspect may relate to application of the label signal, thelabeled content, and labeled icon badges to a data processing unit whichmay perform surveillance or control of turning on, operations, oroperational state of industrial, military, or personal drones.

It is noted that various configurations or methods of using the labeledcontents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges to maintain orcontrol the vehicles may be applied identically or similarly tomaintaining or controlling the drones. Of course, the vehicles may moveon land, while the drones may move in the air. However, such labeledcontents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges related to themanipulation of the drones may be similar or identical to the labeledcontents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges to control thevehicles. Accordingly, further details of various configurations ormethods for managing or manipulating the drones using the labeledcontents, the labeled data packets or the labeled icon badges areomitted herein.

The third example of this fifth exemplary embodiment of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to exemplary application of the label signal,the labeled content, and labeled icon badges [1] to a network of an IoTwhich may in turn include a control unit or a data processing unit, or[2] to an electrical device which may be coupled to a network of an IoTand which may include a data processing unit or a control unit. As aresult, using the label signals, labeled contents or labeled iconbadges, a user may [1] manage the entire IoT network which the user mayaccess and control, or [2] manage, manipulate or control variouselectrical or electronic devices which are coupled to the IoT networkwirelessly or through wire.

For simplicity of illustration, following exemplary embodiment relate tomanaging various electrical or electronic devices which may be coupledto the IoT network using a personal robot. That is, the robot may beused as a control unit or a data processing unit of the IoT, therebyincreasing the efficiency in controlling data processing or theefficiency of controlling the control unit or data processing unit usingthe label signals, labeled contents or labeled icon badges. FIGS. 9I and9J exemplify the configurations or methods for applying various labelsignal, labeled content, and labeled icon badge to an IoT management appand, in particular, such configurations and methods for managing the IoTnetwork as well as various electrical or electronic devices coupled tothe network using the robot.

The terminal of FIG. 9I displays an app icon(20) for an all-purpose IoTnetwork, and also displays an unread icon badge(21), a labeled iconbadge, and multiple sub-app icons(20S). The terminal may display the appicon(20) with [1] an image representing the IoT network or [2] with animage of various electrical or electronic devices coupled to each othervia the IoT network. The terminal of FIG. 9I displays the unread iconbadge(21) and the unread labeled icon badge(23), where eachbadge(21)(23) may respectively represent that a total of 23 unlabeledcontents have been received and that two out of 23 contents are thelabeled contents.

The terminal may also display the app icon(20) with its multiple sub-appicons(20S) which correspond to multiple devices included in the IoTnetwork. For example, the terminal of FIG. 9I displays a black dot inthe center of a display unit, where the black dot may represent apersonal robot capable of managing and manipulating various devicescoupled to the IoT network. In addition, the terminal may inform a userthat [1] there is one labeled content related to the personal robot and[2] there is another labeled content which is represented by anotherblack dot on a left upper corner and which is related to that electricaldevice denoted by the black dot. The terminal may also display otherdots in the form of an U/Is or sub-app icons(20S) each representing oneof such devices. Therefore, when the user click the sub-app icon(20S),the terminal may display various options such as an operational status,problems or manipulations of the device which is synchronized with thesub-app icon(20S).

The terminal may display app icons and sub-app icons related to variousIoT networks. Such IoT networks may include the IoT networks for [1] asmart city, [2] smart building, [3] a smart factory, [4] a smart home,[5] a smart office, [6] a smart farm, [7] a smart system, or [8] a smartgrid, where each of such IoT networks may include its own electrical orelectronic devices, and may directly or indirectly couple such devicesto each other. In particular, the smart system of the [7] of thisparagraph may relate to a system for a solar power generation system, awind power generation system, a water treatment system, or a trafficcontrol system. Alternatively, the IoT network may include multipleelectronic or electrical devices, and may couple them to each other.Accordingly, the IoT network may include at least one smart device,where examples of such smart devices may include [1] a smart householddevice, [2] smart lighting device, [3] a smart security device, [4] asmart vehicle, [5] a smart airplane, [6] a smart robot, [7] a smartdrone, [8] a smart health device, [9] a smart diagnostic device, [10] asmart medical device, [11] a smart wearable device, [12] a smart TV,[13] a smart tele-communication device, [14] a smart computer network(including peripheral devices), or [15] a smart internet network(including a central or local server).

The terminal may display a number of various contents or variousinformation about such contents using an unread icon badge(21) or anunread labeled icon badge(23). Examples of such information may include[1] information related to a status, operation, malfunction or repair ofthe IoT network, or such information of the electrical or electronicdevices which are coupled to or included in the IoT network, [2]information as to a setting or changes in the setting of the IoT networkor such devices, [3] information as to a setting or changes in thesetting related to the manipulation of the IoT network or such devices,[4] information as to adding (or manipulating to add) at least one newdevice to the IoT network, [5] information as to deleting (ormanipulating to delete) at least one existing device out of the IoTnetwork, [6] information as to the maintenance, repair, manipulation orfixing of an entire (or at least a) portion of the IoT network, or [7]information as to the status, repair, operation, malfunction ormanipulation of the robot which controls an entire (or at least a)portion of the IoT network.

More particularly, the unread contents may include the content [1] whichthe device included in the IoT network may create and transmit to theuser, [2] which the device may transmit to the user as a reply to anearlier content which the user has transmitted to the device, [3] whichone device of the IoT network may transmit to another device of the IoTnetwork and to the user. [4] which the IoT network or the robot maycreate and transmit to the user, or [5] which the IoT network or robotmay create and transmit not only to the device but also to the user.Similarly, the unread labeled contents may include the content [1] whichthe device, robot or IoT network may label the user as the labeledreceiver and may transmit to other devices in the IoT network, or [2]which the device, robot or IoT network may label the user as the labeledreceiver and transmit not to all devices in the IoT network but to theuser.

The labeled contents may be a content from which a terminal may extracta “label request information” using various information analysisalgorithms, even when the device, robot or IoT network does not createthe label signal. Or the labeled content may be a content which aterminal regards to carry a greater need for a user to confirm (comparedwith the unlabeled content) based on the analysis performed by theinformation analysis algorithms, even when the device, robot or IoTnetwork does not create the label signal.

The terminal of FIG. 9J may display an image as an app icon(20), where arobot which operates in a merchandise store acquires such an image ofthe store which is implemented with an IoT network.

The terminal may also display multiple unread icon badges(21)(21A)(21B)and multiple labeled icon badges(23)(23A)(23B) on the display unit. Theterminal may receive various contents transmitted by a customer who arevisiting the store through an IoT network, a robot or a certain app. Theterminal may also receive various contents transmitted by an employee ofthe store, through the IoT network, the device included in the network,or the robot. Thus, the user may control the store either inside oroutside the store by managing the inventory of merchandises, answeringcustomer's inquiries, performing the transactions or approving thesales.

Based thereon, the terminal may display the unread icon badge(21) withwhich the terminal may inform the user of a number of received contentsafter the user has most recently driven the app. Or the terminal maydisplay a symbol representing the number and use such a symbol as theunread icon badge(21A). Or the terminal may display the unread iconbadge(21B) related to a location or a merchandise related to the unreadcontents.

The terminal may display the labeled icon badge(23) related to a numberof labeled contents which the IoT network, robot, customer or employeetransmits while labeling the user as the labeled receiver. Or theterminal may display a symbol corresponding to the number on a displayunit, and use the symbol as the labeled icon badge(23A). Or the terminalmay display a labeled icon badge(23B) which represents a location or amerchandise related the labeled content.

For example, the terminal of FIG. 9J may display the unread iconbadges(21)(21A) to notify the user that the user received five unreadcontents since the user drove the app last time. The terminal mayfurther display the labeled icon badges(23)(23A) to notify the user thattwo of five unread contents are the labeled contents. In thealternative, a terminal may display two unread labeled iconbadges(23A)(23B) as well as three unread unlabeled iconbadges(21)(21A)(21B) on a display unit. As a result, the user may easilyrecognize the merchandise or the location related to the unreadunlabeled and labeled contents using various icon badges.

The terminal may display a number of or information related to thecontents using the unread icon badge(21) or labeled icon badge(23).Examples of such information may include [1] information related to astatus, an operation, a malfunction or a repair of an IoT network orsuch information of various electric or electronic devices which areincluded in or coupled to an IoT network, [2] information related to astore confirmed by the IoT network or by the robot, [3] informationrelated to sold merchandise confirmed by the IoT network or robot, [4]information related to the merchandises or a certain location of thestore which needs rearrangement. [5] information related to changes ininventory due to sales or a new supply, [6] information requested by acustomer, or [7] information requested by an employee.

More particularly, the unread contents may include the content [1] whichan IoT network, various electrical or electronic devices of such anetwork, a robot, a customer or an employee may create and then transmitto the user, [2] which the IoT network, device, robot, customer oremployee may transmit to the user as a reply to an earlier content whichthe user has transmitted, or [3] which one of such a network, device,robot, customer or employee may transmit to another and also transmit tothe user. The unread labeled contents may include the content [1] whichone of the IoT network, device, robot, customer or employee may label auser as a labeled receiver, and transmit to the user, IoT network,device, robot, customer, or employee, or [2] which the IoT network,device, robot, customer or employee may label the user as the labeledreceiver, and transmit only to the user.

When the IoT network, device, robot, customer or employee does notcreate any label signal, a labeled content may be the content [1] fromwhich the terminal may be able to extract the “label requestinformation” using various information analysis algorithms, or [2]where, after analyzing such a content with various information analysisalgorithms, the terminal may determine that the need of the user toconfirm such a content may be greater than the need of the user toconfirm the unread unlabeled content.

The fourth example of this fifth exemplary embodiment of this ninthexemplary aspect may relate to an application of such label signals,labeled contents or labeled icon badges to various household, industrialor military robots which may include various control units, dataprocessing units, and the like. Thus, the user may manage, manipulate orcontrol such robots using such label signals, labeled contents orlabeled icon badges of this disclosure.

More particularly, the user may utilize the robot as a control unit or adata processing unit of the IoT network, and use such label signals,labeled contents or labeled icon badges in readily improving theefficiency in controlling the robots or in processing data. It isappreciated that the example of FIG. 9I relates to a case ofmanipulating or controlling the IoT network or various devices coupledto the IoT network. Thus, the following example may relate to managing ahouse using the robot, where the house is not implemented with the IoTnetwork. FIGS. 9K and 9L exemplify various configurations or methods ofapplying such label signals, labeled contents or labeled icon badge to arobot control app.

The terminal of FIG. 9K displays a robot control app as an app icon(20)which also corresponds to a floor plan of a house, and may also displaysan unread icon badge(21) and a labeled icon badge(23) on a display unit.A robot may transmit a user various contents related to [1] variouslocations of the house in which various operations are performed, or [2]a status of such operations to a user. Upon receiving such contents, theterminal of the user may display such contents inside the app icon(20).Therefore, the user may readily confirm various contents which aretransmitted by the robot using the unread icon badge(21) or the labeledicon badge(23). The terminal may also display such icon badges(21)(23)in various configurations or methods which are similar or identical tothose explained in the first to third examples of this fifth embodimentand, therefore, further details are omitted herein.

The terminal of FIG. 9L may display a certain image as an app icon(20)on a display unit, where the image is the one captured by a robot. Theterminal may display the unread icon badge(21) and the labeled iconbadge(23) on the display unit as well. The robot may transmit thecontents related to the location in which certain operations areperformed or the status of such operations. As a result, the terminalmay display a number of received contents or a type of such contentsinside the app icon(20). Therefore, the user may easily confirm variouscontents transmitted by the robot using the unread icon badge(21) or thelabeled icon badge(23). The terminal may also display the iconbadges(21)(23) in various configurations or methods which are similar oridentical to those explained in the first to third examples of thisfifth embodiment and, therefore, further details are omitted herein.

The fifth example of this fifth exemplary embodiment of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to an exemplary application of various labelsignals, labeled contents or labeled icon badges to a U-healthcare(i.e., ubiquitous-healthcare) app. Thus, the user may use such labelsignals, labeled contents or labeled icon badges to manage his health,to react to medical emergencies, manage health of members of a certaingroup, and take preemptive actions. FIGS. 9M and 9N exemplify variousconfigurations and methods of applying such label signals, labeledcontents or labeled icon badge to a healthcare app.

The terminal of FIG. 9M displays an image related to health as an appicon(20) on a display unit, along with an unread icon badge(21) and anunread labeled icon badge(23). The terminal may inform a user that theuser receives a total of seven contents related to his health after hehas run the app the last time, using an unread icon badge(21). Theterminal may also inform the user that two out of seven unread contentsare relatively important contents, using an unread labeled iconbadge(23).

Various subjects may create user's health-related contents, and thentransmit the contents to the user. Examples of such subjects may include[1] a doctor or a medical institution which may analyze the user'shealth in real time, on certain times, or on certain occasions, [2] amedical device of a U-healthcare network which is related (or notrelated) to a medical institution or a medical staff or a medicalinstitution which belongs to the network, [3] a wearable device whichcan be worn by a user and which can acquire at least one biometricinformation of the user, [4] a biometric information analysis devicewhich can be releasably or fixedly implemented to the terminal of theuser, [5] a medical insurance institution, or [6] a medical doctor, amedical institution or a medical device related to the medicalinsurance.

Various subjects may analyze the health-related contents of a user usingvarious means, may check the user's health, and may render the user takeresponsive actions. To this end, various subjects may transmit theunlabeled content or labeled content to the user based on the healthstatus of the user.

For example, when a user's terminal receives an unlabeled content fromone of the above subjects, the terminal may determine that the user isin a good health in general, and may inform a user of such results andof a responsive action. However, the contents which may relate tomedical emergencies or to issues which need to be confirmed in ahospital may become more important to the user than other contents. Insuch cases, one of such subjects may transmit the contents to the useras the labeled content. Upon receiving the content, a user's terminalmay display the content as the labeled content on the display unit. Whendesirable, the terminal may generate various visual, audible or tactilesignals such that the user may readily recognize such contents. Thus,depending upon a number or type of the contents, the user may call foremergency assistance, immediately go to the hospital, or get a specialor regular medical examination as soon as possible.

A terminal of FIG. 9N exemplifies a configuration or method for an iconbadge which a terminal may display on a display unit to inform a user totake an immediate action, particularly when the terminal confirms amedical emergency of the user. The terminal may display an app icon(20),unread icon badge(21), and labeled icon badge(23). The terminal maydisplay a body diagram as the app icon(20), and may display two unreadlabeled icon badges(23) and related body parts, instead of displaying“2” as the labeled icon badge(23). Thus, the user may readily find outwhich body part need immediate examination or treatment.

One of the above subjects may transmit a content related to a user'shealth as the unlabeled content, but may search for the label requestinformation from a text, an image or a sound using various informationanalysts algorithms. Once finding such information, a user's terminalmay regard the content as the labeled content, and display it as thelabeled content on the display unit. The terminal may similarly generatevarious visual, audible or tactile signals such that the user mayreadily recognize such contents.

The above terminals, labeled contents, or labeled icon badges of theninth exemplary aspect may be also modified or varied in variousconfigurations or methods. Followings are various examples of suchmodifications or variations, where such modifications or variations [1]may be applied to modify or vary various embodiments or examples of thisninth exemplary aspect, or [2] may be applied to modify or varydifferent embodiments or examples of different exemplary aspectsdescribed hereinabove or hereinafter.

The first example of the modifications or variations of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to a “control app” for various electricaldevices or electronic devices as explained above, where the terminal maydisplay various icon badges using various types of “push notification.”Examples of such “push notification” may include various informationabout [1] a number or type of control operations which the device mayrequest to the user, [2] about a number or type of the user's command tothe device, [3] about a number or a symbol representing a status ofprogress of an operation which the device may perform in response to theuser's control or command, [4] about number or type of operations orparts of the device which may need the user's control, [5] about anumber or type of operations or parts of the device which malfunctions,[6] about a number or a symbol which may represent an operational statusof the device, [7] about a number or type of an imminent user's controlor command, or [8] about a number or substance of operations which havebeen performed after a certain time or within a certain period of time.The terminal may also limit such push notification [1] to those unreadcontents which the user has not confirmed, or [2] to both unread andread contents which the user has received after a certain time.

The second example of such modifications or variations of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods forallowing a user to react to the unread labeled content using variouspush notifications. For example, the terminal may induce a user to takean cation by using different method of delivering push notificationsbased on the nature or number of such unread labeled contents.

For example, the subjects as explained above may create an unreadlabeled content about an emergency situation, and may transmit thelabeled content to a user, thereby preparing a user to respond to thesituation immediately or within a certain time. To this end, theterminal may generate the visual, audible or tactile signal, and providethe signal to the user as the push notification, thereby allowing theuser to directly react to the situation or to react to the situationthrough the terminal. In particular, such subjects which may transmitthe unread labeled content may include [1] a member (e.g., a colleague,an employee or a customer) of a certain group established by a certainapp, [2] a user's terminal, [3] a sender's terminal, [4] a robot, [5] avehicle, [6] a drone, [7] an IoT network, or [8] various electrical orelectronic devices which may be included or coupled to the IoT network.

Examples of such situations may include [1] in the case of a schedulingapp, the schedules of meeting in which a user has to attend, [2] in thecase of an ad displaying app, starting or ending of a special discountfor a merchandise in which a user has a high preference, [3] in the caseof an event notifying app, an occurrence of an event [3-1] which relatesto the user's important tasks, [3-2] which relates to the user'sfinancial status, or [3-3] which relates to an emergency situation whichmay have a crucial effect on the health of the user, [4] in the case ofan alarm app, an alarm for an upcoming event which may not be rearranged(e.g., boarding an airplane) or an emergency situation based on theuser's biometric information, [5] in the case of a vehicle control app,an occurrence of an event in which the user may have to take an action(e.g., making a turn or a maneuver to avoid accidents), [6] in the caseof a drone control app, an occurrence of an event in which a user has tomanipulate the drone to prevent crash or fall, [7] in the case of an IoTcontrol app, an occurrence of a malfunction of the device of the IoTnetwork or an occurrence of an emergency situation such as a fire or atheft, or [8] in the case of a robot control app, an occurrence of [8-1]an emergency detected by the robot, [8-2] an event which may likely tolead to an emergency situation, or [8-3] a malfunction of the robot.

Various subjects explained above may transmit a labeled content relatedto such occurrences to the user or may transmit a label signal,therefore, a user's terminal may display the content as the labeledcontent. In contrary, such subjects may transmit the content related tosuch situation as an unlabeled content to the user, but the user'sterminal may search for the label request information from a text, imageor sound of the unlabeled content using various information analysisalgorithms. Upon finding the label request information, the user'sterminal may regard the content as the labeled content, and display sucha content as the labeled content.

The third example of such modifications or variations of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods with or inwhich a terminal may display various icon badges on a display unit whichis in an off state, in a lock state or in an unlock state. For example,a terminal may display various icon badges in various methods [1] in anoff state in which the display unit is turned off, [2] in a lock statein which the display unit is turned on but the user has not finished (orpassed) a user authentication, or [3] in an unlock state in which thedisplay unit is turned on and the user has passed the userauthentication. FIGS. 10A and 10B exemplify various configurations ormethods for displaying various icon badges on a display unit which isrespectively in its off state and in its lock state.

For example, when a content which the terminal has received after theuser has finished running the app may not require an immediateconfirmation or response by a user, the terminal may display icon badgeson the display unit as routine data. FIG. 10A exemplifies someconfigurations or methods of displaying various icon badges in a displayunit which is turned off (i.e., which is in its off state), where thedisplay unit(11) in a black color denotes that the display unit(11) isturned off.

In one example, a terminal may display some routine data (e.g., a timeor a date) on a display unit, even if the display unit remains turnedoff. The terminal may treat an app icon, an unread icon badge or an(unread) labeled badge as the routine data, and display the app icon andsuch badges on a turned off display unit. As a result, a user mayreadily confirm a number or a substance of the unread contents as wellas the unread labeled contents (which are a part of the unreadcontents), from the unread icon badge(21) and labeled icon badge(23),[1] without having to turn on the display unit, [2] without having topass a user authentication, or [3] without having to run a certain app.

As described above, an “off state” is a state in which a displayunit(11) is turned off. Accordingly, various hardware elements orsoftware elements of a terminal(10) may not be ready to be run by auser. As a result, when a user attempts to provide various user inputsto an app icon(20) displayed on the display unit(11) in its off state,the terminal(10) may prevent the user from running the app. In acontrary configuration, the terminal(10) may allow a user to run acertain app when the user may manipulate an app icon(20) of the app inthe off state. In particular, the terminal of this configuration may [1]allow the user to run only certain apps in the off state, or [2] mayrequest the user to authenticate himself in the off state in order torun such apps.

In another example, when a terminal receives a content after a userfinished driving a certain app and when the content may not require animmediate confirmation or response by a user, the terminal may displayvarious icon badges on the lock screen in the lock state. But when aterminal receives a content after a user finished driving the app andwhen the content requires an immediate confirmation of the user or animmediate response by the user, a terminal may turn on a display unit(i.e., switching the display unit from its off state to its on state),and display various icon badges on the lock screen of a display unit inits lock state. FIG. 10B exemplifies various configurations or methodsof displaying various icon badges on a lock screen displayed on thedisplay unit in the lock state. It is noted that the display unit(11) ina gray color represents that the display unit(11) is turned on but theterminal may provide a user with limited access authority because theuser has not passed the user authentication.

In one case, a terminal(10) may display certain routine data(39) (e.g.,a time or a date) on a display unit(11) in an off state. In addition,the terminal(11) may display multiple app icons(20), unread iconbadges(21), or unread labeled icon badges(23) in certain areas of thedisplay unit(11). As a result, a user may readily confirm a number or asubstance of the unread contents which the user has received afterfinishing to drive the app the last time, as well as a number or asubstance of the unread labeled contents which are included in theunread contents.

As described above, a “lock state” is a state in which a displayunit(11) is turned on. Accordingly, various hardware elements orsoftware elements of a terminal(10) or at least some of such elementsmay be ready to be run by a user or may already be running. However, thelock state refers to a state in which a user has not passes a userauthentication operation. As a result, when a user attempts to providevarious user inputs to an app icon(20) displayed on the display unit(11)in its lock state, the terminal(10) may prevent the user from runningthe app. In a contrary configuration, the terminal(10) may allow a userto run a certain app when the user may manipulate an app icon(20) of theapp in the lock state. In particular, the terminal of this configurationmay [1] allow the user to run only certain apps in the off state, or [2]may request the user to run an authentication operation in the off stateand to pass such an operation in order to run such apps.

In another example, when a terminal receives a content after a userfinished driving a certain app and when the content may not require animmediate confirmation or response by a user, the terminal may displayvarious icon badges on the lock screen in an unlock state. Or when aterminal receives a content after a user finished driving the app andwhen the content requires an immediate confirmation of the user or animmediate response by the user, a terminal may display various iconbadges on a home screen of a display unit in its unlock state. Thisconfiguration or method is generally similar to that of displaying suchbadges on the lock screen and, therefore, further details are omitted.

It is appreciated that the terminal in its off state and exemplified inFIG. 10A displays three app icons, whereas the terminal in its lockstate and exemplified in FIG. 10B displays nine app icons. This meansthat a terminal may generally display more app icons to a user in thelock state than in the off state and may confer bigger access authorityor more options to a user in the lock state than in the off state. Ofcourse, this is a general case, because a user may have a less intentionof driving a terminal in the off state and because the lock state is thestate through which the user has to proceed in order to switch to theunlock state for driving the terminal.

A terminal in its off state [1] may not display any routine data on thedisplay unit, [2] may display the routine data such as a time or a dateon the display unit, or [3] may display a certain unread icon badgealong with such routine data. Similarly, a terminal in its lock state[1] may display an app icon on a lock screen but may not display anyicon badge for the app, [2] may display a certain labeled icon badge ona lock screen but may not display any labeled content represented by thelabeled icon badge until a user passes a user authentication operation,or [3] may display not only the labeled icon badge but also an entireportion (or a limited portion, e.g., a first line) of the labeledcontent, even before the user passes the user authentication operation.

The fourth example of such modifications or variations of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to various configurations or methods fordisplaying an unread labeled icon badge along with not the unread iconbadge but the unread unlabeled icon badge. As defined above, the unreadcontents of this disclosure include unread unlabeled contents and unreadlabeled contents. Thus, a number of unread contents is a sum of a numberof unread labeled contents and a number of unread unlabeled contents.

But in order for a user to confirm a number of unread unlabeledcontents, the user has to subtract a number of unread labeled contentsfrom a number of unread contents, where most users may not favorperforming a subtraction operation. In order to relieve a user from sucha burden, a terminal may display an unread unlabeled icon badge insteadof an unread icon badge and, therefore, without performing anysubtraction operation, the user may readily and visually confirm thenumber of such unlabeled contents as well as the number of such labeledcontents. FIGS. 11A and 11B exemplify various configurations or methodsfor displaying the numbers of the unlabeled contents and labeledcontents using a labeled icon badge and an unlabeled icon badge.

The terminal of FIG. 11A may display an (unread) unlabeled iconbadge(22) and an (unread) labeled icon badge(23) around or inside an appicon(20) of a certain app. In this example, the unlabeled icon badge(22)is attached with a numeral “223,” whereas the labeled icon badge(23) isattached with another numeral “7.” Therefore, a user may readily andvisually confirm that, since the user terminated driving the app thelast time, he has received 7 labeled contents as well as 223 unlabeledcontents.

Alternatively, a terminal may display an unread icon badge(21) inaddition to the unlabeled icon badge(22) and labeled icon badge(23)around or inside an app icon(20) of a certain app. In this example, theunread icon badge(21) is attached with a numeral “230,” the labeled iconbadge(23) is attached with another numeral “7,” and the unlabeled iconbadge(22) is attached with a numeral “223.” Thus, the user may readilyand visually confirm that, since the user terminated driving the app thelast time, he has received a total of 230 unread contents, in whichseven are the labeled contents, while 223 are the unlabeled contents.

The terminal may display the unlabeled icon badge(22) and labeled iconbadge(23) in various arrangements or configurations which may beidentical to those exemplified in FIGS. 3A to 3G or FIGS. 4A to 4D.Thus, the terminal may display one badge [1] above another badge, [2]next to another badge, [3] inside another badge, [4] to overlap at leasta portion of another badge, or [5] may contact (but not overlap) atleast a portion of another badge. In addition, the terminal may displaysuch badges(22)(23) in different sizes, shapes, colors, positions,arrangements or orientations in such a way that the user may easilydistinguish one badge from the other.

Instead of displaying the unread badge and the labeled icon badge, ordisplaying the unlabeled icon badge and the labeled icon badge, theterminal may display the unread icon badge and the unlabeled icon badge.In addition, unlike those exemplified in FIGS. 3A to 3G or FIGS. 4A to4D, the terminal may display [1] the unread icon badge above the labeledicon badge, [2] the unlabeled icon badge above the labeled icon badge,or [3] the unread icon badge above the unlabeled icon badge.

As explained above, the unread contents always include the unreadunlabeled content and the unread labeled contents. Accordingly, thenumber of unread contents is always bigger than or equal to the numberof labeled contents. But the number of the unlabeled contents may bebigger than, equal to or smaller than the number of the labeledcontents. In addition, all unread contents may correspond to the labeledcontents and, therefore, may not include any unlabeled content. Moreparticularly, when the unread contents may not include any unlabeledcontent, i.e., the numeral for the unlabeled icon badge is “0,” theterminal may display the numeral in various configurations orarrangements exemplified in FIGS. 4A to 4H or FIGS. 5A to 50D.

As explained above, various terminals of this disclosure may display thelabeled contents to a user using various icon badges, where the labeledcontents are included in the unread contents received by a certain appand where such labeled contents may carry more necessity of a user toread or confirm than other contents. More particularly, such terminalsmay display a number or a substance of such labeled contents using suchicon badges. Thus, as long as these objectives of this paragraph may beaccomplished, the terminals of this disclosure may display the badges invarious different configurations or methods. When desirable, theterminals may create new labeled icon badges and display such newlabeled icon badges on a display unit, where such new labeled iconbadges may be created by combining at least two of such labeled iconbadges exemplified herein or by combining multiple features of suchlabeled icon badges exemplified herein.

The fifth example of such modifications or variations of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of displayinga number of the unread contents, or a number of the unread labeled (orunlabeled) contents included in the unread contents received by acertain app, without necessarily displaying any numeral around or insidean app icon. To this end, a terminal may manipulate a shape, a size, acolor, an orientation, an arrangement or a position of at least oneportion of an icon badge.

In one example, a terminal may display various unread icon badges orlabeled icon badges exemplified in FIGS. 3A to 43G or FIGS. 4A to 4D,but may not display any numeral attached to such badges. Instead, theterminal may manipulate a shape, a size, a color, an extent oftransparency, a position, an orientation, or an arrangement of at leastone portion of such icon badges, thereby visually and relativelyrepresenting a number of unread contents or another number of unreadlabeled contents received by a certain app related to the badge.

In another example, a terminal may visually represent a number of unreadcontents or unread labeled contents, not by using such numerals but byusing a certain text or a symbol. That is, the terminal may representthe number of unread contents or unread labeled contents [1] byattaching a text or a symbol to an app icon or [2] by including a textor a symbol in the unread icon badge or the labeled icon badge. Forexample, a terminal may adopt a configuration similar to that of FIG.5D, except that the terminal does not use any numerals but use a certaintext or a symbol in such a way that the text or symbol may represent anabsolute or relative value of such numbers. As far as such terminals ofthis disclosure may represent such numbers of unread contents or unreadlabeled contents without using such numerals, the terminal may modify orvary various labeled icon badges or unread icon badges by attaching anytext or symbol.

In another example, a terminal may visually represent a number of unreadcontents or unread labeled contents, not by using such numerals but byusing a certain figure or an image. That is, the terminal may representthe number of unread contents or unread labeled contents [1] byattaching a certain figure or an image to an app icon or [2] byincluding the figure or image in the unread icon badge or the labeledicon badge. As far as such terminals of this disclosure may representsuch numbers of unread contents or unread labeled contents without usingsuch numerals, the terminal may modify or vary various labeled iconbadges or unread icon badges explained in this disclosure by attachingany figure or image.

The sixth example of such modifications or variations of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of replacingvarious icon badges, by utilizing an app icon (or U/I) of a certain appitself, i.e., various configurations or methods of using the app icon assuch icon badges. To this end, the terminal may replace the icon badgesby an app icon or a certain portion of the app icon, by manipulating ashape, a size, a color, an extent of transparency, an orientation, anarrangement or a position of at least one portion of the app icon,without displaying any unread icon badge or labeled icon badge.

In one example, a terminal may manipulate a shape of at least oneportion of an app icon, similar to the shapes of various unread iconbadges or labeled icon badges exemplified in FIGS. 3A to 43G or FIGS. 4Ato 4D. In one case, a terminal may replace the unread icon badge with aright portion of the app icon, while replacing the labeled icon badgewith a left portion of the app icon. Thereafter, based on the number ortype of the unread contents or labeled contents, the terminal maymanipulate a shape or a size of such right or left portion of the appicon. As a result, just by observing some features (e.g., a shape or asize) of a certain portion of the app icon, a user may readily andvisually confirm the number or type of such unread contents or labeledcontents.

In another example, a terminal may visually represent a number of unreadcontents or unread labeled contents by using a certain text or symbol.That is, the terminal may represent a number of unread contents orunread labeled contents by attaching a certain text or symbol to an appicon. As far as a user may confirm the number or type of unread contentsor unread labeled contents, the terminal may modify or vary variousfeatures of the app icon and using such app icon either as the labeledicon badge or as the unread icon badge.

The seventh example of such modifications or variations of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods of usingvarious icon badges along with multiple app icons. To this end, aterminal may display two or more app icons for each app.

For example, a terminal may display a 1^(st) app icon and a 2^(nd) appicon, both of which correspond to a certain app or to an U/I of the appon a display unit. More particularly, the terminal may display an unreadicon badge around or inside the 1^(st) app icon, while displaying anunread labeled icon badge around or inside the 2^(nd) app icon. Bydisplaying multiple app icons for a certain app and displaying each iconbadge around or inside each app icon, a user may readily andindividually confirm a number or a type of the unread contents,unlabeled contents or labeled contents.

In a first case, a terminal may display the 1^(st) app icon and the2^(nd) app icon for a certain app on a display unit. More particularly,the terminal may manipulate a shape, a size, a color, an extent oftransparency, an orientation, an arrangement or a position of the 1^(st)app icon such that the terminal can use the 1^(st) app icon as theunread icon badge. That is, the terminal may manipulate such features ofthe 1^(st) app icon differently based on the number of unread contents.Therefore, the user may visually or qualitatively confirm the number ortype of the unread contents received by the app. Similarly, the terminalmay also manipulate a shape, a size, a color, an extent of transparency,an orientation, an arrangement or a position of the 2^(nd) app icon anduse the 2^(nd) app icon as the labeled icon badge.

In a second case, when multiple apps are implemented into a terminal andwhen each of such apps may receive contents, a terminal may display the1^(st) app icon and the 2^(nd) app icon for each of such multiple apps.The terminal may also display an unread icon badge (which may representa number or a type of unread contents) around or inside each of multiple1^(st) app icons, and display a labeled icon badge (which may representa number of a type of unread labeled contents) inside or around each ofmultiple 2^(nd) app icons. The terminal may also display multiple 1^(st)app icons and their unread icon badges in a first region of the displayunit, while displaying multiple 2^(nd) app icons and their labeled iconbadges in a second region which may be different from the first region.

As a result, using multiple labeled icon badges and their multiple2^(nd) app icons displayed as a cluster in the second region of thedisplay unit, the user may easily confirm a number of the labeledcontents received by each of multiple apps. Similarly, using multipleunread icon badges and multiple 1^(st) app icons displayed as a clusterin the first region of the display unit, the user may also easilyconfirm a number or a type of unread contents received by each ofmultiple apps.

FIG. 11C exemplifies such configurations or methods for displaying afirst cluster of unread icon badges and a second cluster of labeled (orunlabeled) icon badges in different regions of the display unitdepending upon the types of contents, where this corresponds to thesecond case of the variations or modifications of the seventh example ofthe ninth exemplary aspect. A terminal(10) of FIG. 11C is in a lockstate, and displays a total of 6 app icons, i.e., three 1^(st) app iconsand three 2^(nd) app icons. More particularly, the terminal(10) maydisplay three 1^(st) app icons for such three apps in a lower portion ofa display unit(11), while attaching to such app icons three unread iconbadges for representing the number of received unread contents for eachapp. The terminal(10) may also display three 2^(nd) app icons for suchthree apps in an upper portion of the display unit(11), while attachingto such app icons three labeled icon badges for representing the numberof received, unread labeled contents for each app. As a result, whenchecking the number of labeled contents received by each app, the userhas only to look at the upper portion of the display unit(11), whilelooking at the lower portion of the display unit(11) in checking thenumber of unread contents received by each app.

In a third case, when multiple apps are implemented into a terminal andwhen each of such apps may receive contents, the terminal may displaymultiple 1^(st) app icons for certain apps, their multiple unread iconbadges, multiple 2^(nd) app icons for those apps, and their labeled iconbadges, when such apps have received unread contents which also includethe labeled contents. However, when other apps have received unreadcontents which do not include the labeled contents, the terminal mayonly display multiple 1^(st) app icons for those other apps and theirmultiple unread icon badges. In addition, the terminal may display onlythe 1^(st) app icons and their unread icon badges in the first portionof the display unit, but may display only the 2^(nd) app icons and theirlabeled icon badges in the second portion of the display unit which isdifferent from the first portion. As a result, using multiple labeledicon badges and multiple 2^(nd) app icons displayed as a cluster in thesecond portion of the display unit, the user may easily confirm a numberof labeled contents received by each of multiple apps.

FIG. 11D exemplifies such configurations or methods for displaying afirst cluster of unread icon badges and a second cluster of labeled (orunlabeled) icon badges in different portions of the display unitdepending upon the types of contents, where this corresponds to thethird case of the variations or modifications of the seventh example ofthe ninth exemplary aspect. A terminal(10) of FIG. 11D is in an unlockstate, and displays a total of 8 app icons, i.e., three 1^(st) app iconsfor three apps, two 2^(nd) app icons for two apps, and three app iconseach of which has not received or may not receive any content.

The terminal(10) may display three 1^(st) app icons for such three appsin a right portion of the display unit(11), while attaching to such appicons three unread icon badges for representing the number of received,unread contents for each app. In contrary, the terminal(10) may onlydisplay two 2^(nd) app icons for two apps in a left portion of thedisplay unit(11), while attaching to such app icons two unread labeledicon badges for representing the number of received, unread labeledcontents for each app.

In FIG. 11D, the terminal(10) may display the 1^(st) icon of a messengerapp which has received a total of 183 unread contents as well as anumeral “183” on the right portion of the display unit(11). But whenthose 183 unread contents do not include any labeled contents, theterminal(10) may display the 1^(st) app icon of the messenger app on theright portion of the display unit(11), but does not display any 2^(nd)app icon of the messenger app on the left portion of the displayunit(11). In other words, when the unread contents include the labeledcontents as in the second case of this example, the terminal(10)displays not only the 1^(st) app icon of the app but also the 2^(nd) appicon of the same app. However, when the unread contents do not includeany labeled content as in the third case of this example, theterminal(10) displays only the 1^(st) app icon of the app but may notdisplay the 2^(nd) app icon of the same app.

As a result, when checking the number of unread contents received byeach app, a user who drives the terminal or app of the third case ofthis example has only to look at the right portion of the display unit.In contrary, when checking the number of labeled contents received byeach app, a user who drives the terminal or app of the third case ofthis example has only to look at the left portion of the display unit.

Because the terminal does not display any app icon or any icon badge foran app which receives unread contents which, however, do not include anylabeled content, the user may more readily check [1] those apps whichhave received at least one labeled contents or [2] the number or thetype of the labeled contents.

In the above cases of the variations or modifications of the seventhexample of the ninth exemplary aspect, a terminal may arrange suchmultiple app icons to perform the same or similar functions. In otherwords, when a certain app displays a 1^(st) app icon and a 2^(nd) appicon and when a user provides a user input to the 1^(st) or 2^(nd) appicon, each app icon may open the same group window or content window ona display unit(11).

In contrary and in the same cases, a terminal may instead arrange suchmultiple app icons to perform different functions. That is, when acertain app displays a 1^(st) app icon and a 2^(nd) app icon and when auser provides the same user input to the 1^(st) or 2^(nd) app icon, eachapp icon may display a different group window or a different contentwindow on the display unit(11). For example, when a user provides a userinput to a 1^(st) app icon of a certain app, the app may open a groupwindow or a content window each of which may include not only labeledcontents but also unlabeled contents. But when the user provides thesame user input to a 2nd app of the same app, the app [1] may open agroup window which selectively includes those groups which have received(unread) labeled contents, or [2] may open a content window in which theunlabeled contents are simplified or omitted, while the labeled contentsmay be highlighted.

The eighth example of such modifications or variations of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to the configurations or methods for a user ora terminal to respond to such labeled contents or labeled icon badges.First, when a user confirms the presence of the unread labeled contentincluded in the unread contents received by a certain app implementedinto a terminal, a user may respond to the labeled contents in variousmethods. In the case of a scheduling app, the user may transmit acontent informing that he will attend a meeting, that he can't attendthe meeting, that he will be late for the meeting, or that he requeststo postpone the meeting. In the case of an ad displaying app, the usermay transmit a content informing that he will purchase a merchandise,that he cancels a reservation of the merchandise, or that he wants themerchandise to be delivered. In the case of an event notifying app, theuser may transmit a content notifying the police, law enforcement ormedical institution, or another content that he asks for help or that hewill make an investment (e.g., buying stocks, bonds, or the like). Inthe case of a control app for the above electrical or electronicdevices, the user may transmit a content for manipulating the devices.

The user may also request a terminal to respond to various contentsdescribed in the above paragraph. For example, when a user finds aboutfire by confirming a labeled content received through the eventnotifying app, the user may render the terminal call a fire station bymanipulating a certain button or another input unit, instead of the usercalling the fire station himself.

The ninth example of such modifications or variations of this ninthexemplary aspect relates to such configurations or methods of applyingvarious labeled contents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badge toother programs or apps implemented not to a mobile terminal, but to adesktop computer or a control panel of an office or a factory. FIGS. 11Eand 11F exemplify such configurations or methods of applying the labelsignals, labeled contents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badgesto computer programs utilizing a network.

FIG. 11E exemplify an app icon, an unread icon badge, and a labeled iconbadge for an e-mail app, all displayed on a screen of a desktopcomputer, where the computer may inform a user with an unread iconbadge(21) and a numeral “230” that 230 unread e-mails have been receivedafter the user has run the app the last time. In addition, the computermay also inform the user with the labeled icon badge(23) that 23 of suchunread e-mails are the labeled e-mails.

FIG. 11F exemplify a different screen displayed on a display unit of alaptop computer, where an “inbox(21)” informs a user that a total of 230unread e-malls have been received, while an “labeled box(23)” informsthe user that seven out of 230 unread e-mails are the labeled e-mails.In this aspect, the inbox may correspond to an unread icon badge, whilethe labeled box may correspond to a labeled icon badge. The laptopcomputer may also create a label signal, create a labeled data packetincluding the label signal, and transmit or receive such a data packetthrough a network, in various configurations or methods which aresimilar to those of various terminals described above.

Various embodiments and examples of this ninth exemplary aspects may beinterchangeable with other embodiments or examples of other aspectsdisclosed heretofore and hereinafter. Therefore, as long as theembodiments or examples may not contradict each other, such embodimentsor examples of this ninth aspect [1] may also apply to correspondingfeatures of other embodiments or examples of this ninth aspect or otheraspects, [2] may be incorporated into corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of the ninth or other aspects, [3] may replacecorresponding features of other embodiments or examples of this ninthaspect or other aspects, [4] may be replaced by corresponding featuresof other embodiments or examples of this ninth aspect or other aspects,or [5] may instead be combined with corresponding features of otherembodiments or examples of this ninth or other aspects.

5. Creating Labeled Signals and Labeled Contents in the Perspective ofthe System

The tenth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or operational sequences of software elements capable ofcreating various icon badges. To this end, a terminal or an app maydetermine the presence or absence of unread contents received by acertain app or by a certain group established by the app or may count anumber of the unread contents. In addition, the terminal or app may alsodetermine the presence or absence of labeled (or unlabeled) contentsincluded in the unread contents or may count a number of the labeled (orunlabeled) contents.

The counting of the above paragraph may be performed by various subjectssuch as, e.g., various software elements of a terminal, various appsimplemented or downloaded into the terminal, various computer programsof an external server, various apps implemented to the server, variouscomputer programs in a cloud storage, or various apps stored orimplemented into the cloud storage. But for simplicity of illustration,such counting by above various subjects is to be collectively referredto as “counting performed by a terminal” or simply as “counting.”Therefore, such counting in the following explanation may be performedby any of the terminal, the app implemented into the terminal, by theexternal server, the cloud, as well as any device which includes or isimplemented with an app or a computer program capable of performing suchcounting. In this case, the terminal may perform an entire (or only a)portion of such counting.

For example, when an app implemented to a terminal or a certain group ofthe app has received an unread content which a user does not confirmyet, the terminal may display an unread icon badge which represents thepresence of an unread content. Whenever the terminal receives anotherunread content, the terminal may count a (cumulative) number of theunread contents and, when desirable, can display not only the unreadicon badge but also a numeral which represents the (cumulative) number.Of course, the terminal may display the unread icon badge and thenumeral in any position on a display unit. For the ease of a user,however, the terminal may display the unread icon badge and the numeralaround or inside an app icon of the app.

In addition, the terminal [1] may check the presence of a labeledcontent included in unread contents based on the label signals, and maycount a number of such labeled contents, or [2] may proactively checkthe presence of a labeled content in the unread contents using theinformation analysis algorithms, and may count the number of suchlabeled contents. Upon confirming the presence of the labeled contentsin the unread contents, the terminal may then display an (unread)labeled icon badge or, simply, labeled icon badge, thereby representingthat the unread contents include the labeled contents. Whenever aterminal receives an additional unread content, the terminal may checkwhether the unread contents include the labeled contents. In addition,the terminal may update a (cumulative) number of such (unread) labeledcontents and, when desirable, the terminal may display not only theunread labeled icon badge as well as a numeral representing the numberof such labeled contents.

A terminal may display the unread labeled icon badge and the numeralrepresenting the number of the labeled contents in any portion of adisplay unit. However, for the sake of the user's convenience, aterminal may display the badge and the numeral [1] inside or around anapp icon for a certain app in an unlock screen, in a lock screen, or ina display screen when a display unit is in its off state, or [2] insideor around a group icon displayed on a group window of a certain app. Inaddition, a terminal may display the unread icon badge, a numeral forrepresenting a number of unread contents, the unread labeled icon badge,or a numeral for representing a number of unread labeled contents, invarious configurations or arrangements as explained hereinabove andhereinafter.

The first exemplary embodiment of this tenth exemplary aspect relates toa computer program for checking the presence or absence of unreadcontents received by a certain app and capable of counting a number ofsuch unread contents. For example, FIG. 12A exemplifies a computerprogram for counting and displaying a number of unread contents. In thefirst five lines of its codes, like calling a camera app or an albumapp, the program may assign a constant value of an intent action, “int,”to a “badgeCount” which represents a (cumulative) number of unreadcontents. In this case, “getPackageName( )” is a function for calling apresent package name, while the class name is the name of an activityclass in which a certain is first run or executed. When“MainActivity.class” is the first activity class, the program can usesuch a name. Because the program sets up a separate class for displaywith “int” and switches to “MainActivity” after a certain period, theprogram may use a function for calling a launcher screen.

The program can create two classes which may inherit two services basedon the FCM, while performing a “sendNotification method” or an“onMessageReceived method” of a class which inherits“FirevaseMessagingService.” When the program receives push informationsuch as, e.g., an unread content or an unlabeled data packet whichincludes the unread content, the program can increase a “BadgeCountvariable” (to be referred to as a “badge count” hereinafter) by 1. It isnoted that the badge count may have to be initialized as “0” when theapp is executed. The terminal or the app may save the badge count indatabases such as “SharedPreference” or “SQLite.” The terminal or theapp may call a function for checking the badge count and, when the countis not “0,” it can initialize the badge count as “0.” That is, when auser runs an app, the program initializes the badge count as “0.” Whenthe user finishes running the app, the program increases the badge countwhen the terminal or the app receives push information such as, e.g., anunread content or an unlabeled data packet including the unread content.

Therefore, the terminal or app may display the badge count whichrepresents a number of unread contents received by a certain app or by acertain group of the app, along with the unread icon badge. For example,when the terminal displays an app icon (or U/I) of a certain app on adisplay unit, the terminal may display the badge count as well as theunread icon badge around or inside the app icon (or U/I). The terminalor the app may execute the above program when it receives the pushinformation, i.e., the unread content.

When a terminal displays multiple group icons for multiple groups whichhave been set by a certain app, the terminal may display the unread iconbadge for each group as well as the badge count (i.e., a number ofunread contents) for each group around or inside each group icon (orU/I). To this end, the program of FIG. 12A may be modified in such a waythat the program assigns a group count as well as a unique connectioninformation to each of multiple groups which are set up by the app, andthat the program may increase the group count as well as the badge countwhen the terminal or the app receives the push information such as theunread content or the unlabeled data packet which includes the unreadcontent. Accordingly, the terminal or the app may count and display thenumber of unread contents received by the app as well as the number ofunread contents received by each of such multiple groups of the app.

The second exemplary embodiment of this tenth exemplary aspect relatesto a computer program for checking the presence or absence of anylabeled content included in the unread contents received by a terminalor a certain app and capable of counting a number of such unlabeledcontents. For example, FIG. 12B exemplifies a computer program forcounting and displaying a number of the labeled contents. In the firstfive lines of its codes, the program may assign a constant value of anintent action, “int,” to a “labelCount” which represents a (cumulative)number of unread labeled contents. In this case, “getPackageName( )” isa function for calling a present package name, while the class name isthe name of an activity class in which a certain is first run orexecuted. When “MainActivity.class” is the first activity class, theprogram can use such a name. Because the program sets up a separateclass for display with “int” and switches to “MainActivity” after acertain period, the program may use a function for calling a launcherscreen.

The program can create two classes which may inherit two services basedon the FCM, while performing a “sendNotification method” or an“onMessageReceived method” of a class which inherits“FirevaseMessagingService.” When the program receives push informationsuch as, e.g., a label signal, a labeled content, or a labeled datapacket, the program can increase a “labelCount variable” (to be referredto as a “label count” hereinafter) by 1. It is appreciated that thelabel count may have to be initialized as “0” when the app is executedor run. The terminal or the app may save the label count in databasessuch as “SharedPreference” or “SQLite.” The terminal or the app may calla function for checking the label count and, when the count is not “0,”it can initialize the badge count as “0.” That is, when a user runs anapp, the program initializes the label count as “0.” When the userfinishes running the app, the program increases the label count when theterminal or the app receives push information such as the labeledcontent.

Therefore, the terminal or app may display the label count whichrepresents a number of (unread) labeled contents included in the unreadcontent received by a certain app or by a certain group of the app,along with the (unread) labeled icon badge. For example, when theterminal displays an app icon (or U/I) of a certain app on a displayunit, the terminal may display the labeled icon badge as well as thelabel count (i.e., a number of the labeled contents) around or insidethe app icon (or U/I). Or when a terminal displays multiple group iconsfor multiple groups which have been set by the app, the terminal maydisplay the unread labeled icon badge for each group as well as thelabel count (i.e., a number of unread labeled contents) for each grouparound or inside each group icon (or U/I). The terminal or app mayexecute the above program when it receives the push information, i.e.,the unread content.

In general, the program of FIG. 12A is similar to that of FIG. 12B.Whereas the program of FIG. 12A employs the variable “badge count” tocount a (cumulative) number of unread contents, the program of FIG. 12Buses the variable “label count” to count a number of unread labeledcontents. Therefore, the terminal or the app may display an unread iconbadge and labeled icon badge on the display unit, while also displayinga number of unread contents or another number of labeled content byexecuting the programs exemplified in FIGS. 12A and 12B or otherprograms which may be similar to such programs.

It is noted that the program of FIG. 12A is independent of that of FIG.12B and, therefore, the terminal or the app may execute only one of suchprograms. That is, the terminal or the app may use the variable, the“label count,” to count the (cumulative) number of the unread labeledcontents, and may display the labeled icon badge and the number of thelabeled contents, while not displaying the unread icon badge and thenumber of unread contents.

The third exemplary embodiment of this tenth exemplary aspect relates toa computer program capable of counting a number of labeled contentsincluded in unread contents received by a certain app, on theperspective of both a terminal and a server. FIG. 12C exemplifies aprogram of a server and another program of a terminal for counting thenumber of unread labeled contents. More particularly, an upper portionof the program of FIG. 12C corresponds to the program in the server,while the lower portion is the program in the terminal.

For example and as explained in the first and second embodiments of thistenth aspect, a server may count a number of unread contents which arereceived by a certain app or a certain group set up by the app, and mayrepresent that number and its related unique connection information as“Badge_Count.” In addition, the server may count a number of the labeledcontents included in the unread contents, and may represent that numberand its related unique connection information as “Badge_Prioirty_Count.”In addition to the Badge_Count and Badge_Prioirty_Count, the server maytransmit [1] Device_ID(unique information of a receiver's terminal whichis to receive that “number” and such information or the receiver's phonenumber), [2] APP_ID(unique information of the app implemented to thereceiver's terminal which is to receive that “number” and suchinformation), [3] Service_ID(information related to broadcast service ofthe receiver's terminal), [4] Mode (preset information related to a modeof display, a shape of an icon, and the like), or [5] Code (informationaccessible by the receiver's terminal such as, e.g., a scope of aterminal's notifying, an icon, a notifying screen, a lock screen, ordisplayed information).

A server may execute “Update_Badge” and save or manage informationobtained by executing “Calculate_Badgecount.” In this case, the “SettingParameter” is a set value related to transmission such as, e.g., aperiod of transmission, an option for retransmission in case of failure,or an option for a notice after transmission. In addition, the servermay deliver such notice information to a terminal in the form of“Badge_Info,” where “Database{Badge_info}” represents data to betransmitted to a receiver as well as unique information of the terminal,where “PARAMETER” represents information such as a setting for callingin case of transmission, or a mode of notifying a user. A server mayalso execute “Management_Badge( ),” save or manage information forchecking for successful transmission to a receiver's terminal, anddetermine whether or not to retransmit the content.

A receiver's terminal may receive various information from a server ormay request the server to transmit various information to itself. Forexample, a terminal may execute “Broadcating_RequestBadge,” maycommunicate with a server either wirelessly or through wire using thebroadcast function provided by an O/S, and may request variousinformation explained in the above two paragraphs. More particularly,the terminal may execute “Get_BadgeInfo( )” and receive the noticedisplaying information. Once receiving such information, the terminalmay deliver such information to “Display_Badgeinfo( ),” therebydisplaying an unread icon badge, a labeled icon badge, a numeral whichrepresents a number of unread contents, or another numeral whichrepresents a number of unread labeled contents, inside or around an appicon (or a group icon of a certain group).

The above programs which are implemented to a terminal, an app or aserver and which may check the presence or absence of unread contents orunread labeled contents and which may count a number of such unreadcontents or unread labeled contents of the tenth exemplary aspect may bealso modified or varied in various operational sequences or methods.Followings are various examples of such modifications or variations,where such modifications or variations [1] may be applied to modify orvary various embodiments or examples of this tenth exemplary aspect, or[2] may be applied to modify or vary different embodiments or examplesof different exemplary aspects described hereinabove or hereinafter.

In the first example of such modifications or variations of this tenthexemplary aspect, a server which provides services to a certain app maytransmit push information to the app implemented to a terminal, wherethe push information may include [1] the unread contents which have beenreceived by the app or by a certain group of multiple groups set up bythe app, or [2] the (unread) labeled contents which have been receivedby the app or by a certain group of multiple groups set up by the app.After executing “Calculate_Badgecount( )” of FIG. 12C, the server mayalso update its database through “Update_Badge( )” periodically or inreal time. The server may transmit such updated information to theterminal either as the unread content or as the labeled content through“Pushing_Badge( ).” The server may also manage various informationrelated to transmission of various contents or data packets through“Management_Badge( ).”

In the second example of such modifications or variations of this tenthexemplary aspect, a certain app which is implemented to a terminal andwhich provides certain services may request a server to transmitinformation related to the unread contents, the labeled contents, and anumber of such unread contents or a number of such labeled contents. Forexample, when the terminal request such information or when a user runsthe app, the terminal or app may request the information to the serverthrough “Broadcating_RequestBadge( ).” Once the server transmits suchinformation, the terminal may receive the information through“Get_BadgeInfo( )” and display the information on a display unit through“Display_Badgeinfo( ).”

In the third example of such modifications or variations of this tenthexemplary aspect, various subjects may determine whether the data packetreceived by a terminal or an app may include a label signal or whether acontent received by the terminal or the app may be the labeled content.The above exemplary programs may then be modified accordingly. Forexample, a sender or a terminal may create a label signal or a labeledcontent when a sender may provide a mechanical user input to a terminalor when a sender's terminal may use various information analysisalgorithms stored in or outside the terminal. Or a server may create alabel signal or a labeled content based on the user input provided by auser, or may create a label signal or a labeled content use variousinformation analysis algorithms stored in or outside the server.Alternatively, a receiver's terminal may extract the label signal fromthe data packet or may create the label signal or the labeled content byusing the information analysis algorithms stored in the terminal orstored outside. Based thereupon, the above programs may be easilymodified accordingly.

6. Variations or Modifications

Various terminals, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges of thefirst exemplary aspect to the tenth exemplary aspect may be alsomodified or varied in various configurations or methods. In particular,followings exemplary aspects, their various embodiments, and theirvarious examples may be applied to modify or to vary each embodiment oreach example of the above first to tenth exemplary aspects.

The eleventh exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods for various subjects which may create thelabel signal, where this eleventh aspect may be applied to each of theabove first to tenth exemplary aspects. As described above, the labelsignal may be created by various subjects examples of which may include[1] a terminal of a user who may create a content, [2] a terminal of areceiver, e.g., a member of a certain group of a certain app, who mayreceive the content, or [3] a server (i.e., a central or local server)which may relay the content from a sender to a receiver. These subjectsmay create the label signal while coupled to each other or individually.Similarly, a user's terminal, a receiver's terminal or a server maycheck while coupled to each other or individually, whether a certaindata packet may include the label signal.

In general, creation of the label signal or checking the label signalmay be different based on the features of configurations or operationalsequences of a terminal, a certain app, or a server. Therefore, creationor checking for the label signal may be designed differently based on aselection by a terminal manufacturer, a server manager, or an appdeveloper, as long as the terminal, server or app may operate properly.

In general, a terminal may run an operation of creating a label signal,and then another operation of including the label signal into a datapacket, thereby running an operation of creating a labeled data packet.The hardware elements of a terminal which may run the operations mayinclude a CPU unit, whereas the software elements of the terminalrunning these operations may include an O/S, an app or other computerprograms assigned to such operations. For simplicity of illustration,the terminal is deemed to run such operations throughout thisdisclosure.

The following embodiments of this eleventh aspect relate to variousconfigurations or methods of creating the label signal by the abovesubjects and of creating the labeled data packet. In addition, thefollowing embodiments may apply to the above first to tenth exemplaryaspects.

In the first exemplary embodiment of this eleventh exemplary aspect, auser's terminal (i.e., the user's terminal or an app implemented to theterminal) may create a label signal. For example, a user who creates acontent can also create various label signals in various methods asexemplified in various embodiments or examples of the fourth or fifthexemplary aspect. Alternatively, a user's terminal may create a labelsignal using various prior art information analysis algorithms asexemplified in various embodiments or examples of the sixth aspect ofthis disclosure. The user's terminal may include the label signal into adata packet, create a labeled data packet, and then transmit the datapacket to a server or directly to a receiver's terminal.

In the second exemplary embodiment of this eleventh exemplary aspect, aserver may create a label signal. For example, when a user does notactively create a label signal and include the label signal into a datapacket, a server may receive the data packet from a user's terminal, mayanalyze the data packet using various information analysis algorithms asexemplified in various embodiments and examples of the sixth aspect ofthis disclosure, and may determine whether or not to create a labelsignal. It is noted that, when the user actively creates the labelsignal and include the label signal into the data packet, the server maynot necessarily perform such analysis using the information analysisalgorithms.

In the third exemplary embodiment of this eleventh exemplary aspect, aserver may check whether a received data packet may include a labelsignal. For example, a server which receives a data packet of the firstembodiment may analyze the data packet and check whether the data packetincludes the label signal. When the data packet includes the labelsignal, the server may transmit the data packet to the receiver'sterminal, and may inform the terminal that the label signal is includedin the data packet. Alternatively, the server may store the content ofthe data packet and only transmit the label signal to a receiver'sterminal. The receiver's terminal may then contact the server, confirmthe content, and then display the content as a labeled content on adisplay unit.

In the fourth exemplary embodiment of this eleventh exemplary aspect, areceiver's terminal may generate a label signal. For example, thereceiver's terminal may receive a data packet from a server or from auser's terminal, may analyze a content included in the data packet usingvarious information analysis algorithms as exemplified in variousembodiments or examples of the sixth exemplary aspect of thisdisclosure, and then determine whether or not to create a label signal.

In the fifth exemplary embodiment of this eleventh exemplary aspect, areceiver's terminal may confirm whether or not a received data packetmay include a label signal. For example, a receiver's terminal mayreceive a data packet, and may check whether the data packet may includethe label signal as created in the first or second exemplary aspect ofthis disclosure. Alternatively, a receiver's terminal may confirm thelabel signal which it generated according to the fourth embodiment ofthis eleventh aspect.

In the sixth exemplary embodiment of this eleventh exemplary aspect, auser's terminal and a server may share the task of creating or checkinga label signal. Or a receiver's terminal and a server may instead sharethe task of creating or checking a label signal. Or a user's terminaland a receiver's terminal may share the task of creating or checking alabel signal. Alternatively, a user's terminal, a server, and areceiver's terminal may share the task of creating or checking a labelsignal.

The twelfth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of creating the unread icon badges and thelabeled icon badges which may be formed by manipulating various featuresof app icons, where various icons of this twelfth aspect may be appliedto the foregoing first to tenth exemplary aspects. For example, theterminal may manipulate various features of the app icons and may thenuse the manipulated app icons as the unread icon badge or the labeledicon badge. Therefore, as the number of the unread contents or thenumber of the labeled contents may increase, the terminal may increasean extent of such manipulation as well, thereby utilizing themanipulated app icons as the unread icon badge or the labeled iconbadge. Examples of such features of the app icons may include a shape, asize, a position, an orientation, a background, a color, a brightness oran extent of transparency.

Therefore, a terminal may change a length or a height of an app icon ofan e-mail app and use the app icon as an unread icon badge or as alabeled icon badge. A terminal may instead change a font, a color, aposition or a background of a data included in an app icon of ascheduling app and use the app icon as an unread icon badge or as alabeled icon badge. Or a terminal may change a size or a color of oneside (e.g., a left side or a right side) of an app icon of a messengerapp and use the app icon as an unread icon badge or as a labeled iconbadge. Or the terminal may change various features of the app icon inreal time based on the numbers of the unread contents or the unreadlabeled contents, and may use such app icons as an unread icon badge oras a labeled icon badge.

The thirteenth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of selecting a labeled receiver based on arelationship between a certain sender and a certain receiver, not basedon [1] a unilateral labeling by a sender, [2] a unilateral labeling bythe analysis of the content transmitted by the sender, or [3] aunilateral labeling by a receiver's terminal.

The first exemplary embodiment of this thirteenth exemplary aspectrelates to a case where a user is a sender. That is, a user may selectat least one receiver as a labeled receiver by, e.g., [1] selecting acertain receiver of a certain group of a certain app, [2] selecting atleast one receiver from multiple groups of a certain app, or [3]selecting at least one receiver from all persons or entities listed inall apps of the receiver's terminal, where information of such personsor entities are stored in the receiver's terminal. Once a user mayselect a labeled receiver, the user's terminal may include all contentsinto the labeled data packet and transmit the data packet to the labeledreceiver, regardless of whether it is the user or others who may createthe label signal. Or the user's terminal may transmit the data packeteither only to the labeled receiver as the labeled data packet or to allreceivers as the unlabeled data packet. The receiver's terminal maydisplay the content included in the data packet either as the labeledcontent or as the unlabeled content.

To this end, a user may select his boss, family, other important peopleor institutions in advance as the labeled receivers. When a user wantsto control various electrical or electronic devices, the user may selectsuch devices as labeled receivers. Thus, the user may render a receiverconfirm or read the labeled content, whether or not the labeled contentmay include information related to the receiver.

In the second exemplary embodiment of this thirteenth exemplary aspect,a user is a receiver. The user may label at least one sender as alabeled sender. For example, a user may [1] select a labeled sender fromthe members of a certain group, [2] select a labeled sender frommultiple groups of a certain app, or [3] select a labeled sender fromall people or institutions listed in a user's terminal, regardless ofthe kind of the apps. When the user selects the labeled sender, a user'sterminal may display a content included in a labeled data packetreceived by the labeled sender, and may also display a content includedin an unlabeled data packet as the labeled content as well.

To this end, a user may select his boss, family, other important peopleor institutions in advance as the labeled receivers. When a user wantsto confirm a status of various electrical or electronic devices or tocontrol such devices, the user may select such devices as labeledreceivers. Therefore, the user may render a receiver confirm or read thelabeled content, whether the labeled content may be related to the useror to other receivers.

In the third exemplary embodiment of this thirteenth exemplary aspect, aserver selects a labeled receiver. A serve may receive a list of labeledreceivers from a sender. Thereafter, when the server receives a datapacket from a sender, the server may transmit the labeled data packet tothe labeled receiver, while transmitting the unlabeled data packet tothe unlabeled receiver, regardless of whether the data packet may or maynot include the label signal.

Or the server may receive a list of labeled senders from a receiver.Thereafter, when a server receives a data packet from a sender and whena sender is the labeled sender, the server may transmit a labeled datapacket to the labeled receiver, while transmitting an unlabeled datapacket to the unlabeled receiver, regardless of whether the data packetmay or may not include the label signal when the sender.

Or the server may proactively select a labeled receiver as well. Thatis, regardless of whether or not a data packet transmitted by a sendermay include a label signal, the server may analyze the content includedin the data packet with the information analysis algorithms and, basedon the analysis, the server may proactively select a labeled receiver.More particularly, the server may search for a name, an ID, or e-mailaddress of a boss, a family member, other important persons orinstitutions using the information analysis algorithms, and may thenselect a labeled receiver.

The fourteenth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of unilaterally selecting a labeled receiver,not by unilateral labeling of a labeled receiver by a sender, or not byunilateral labeling based on the analysis of the sender's content by theserver or by the receiver's terminal. Therefore, in this fourteenthaspect, a terminal may label a content received by a receiver as thelabeled content only when at least two of the sender, server, andreceiver may make a prior agreement.

It is noted in this aspect that the sender may include a sender'sterminal as well as the aforementioned vehicle, drone, robot, electricalor electronic device, various IoT networks, or various devices connectedto the network. In addition, the sender may include a user as well asother members of a certain group such as, e.g., a customer or anemployee who is also a member of the group. Similarly, in this aspect,the receiver may include a receiver's terminal as well as theaforementioned vehicle, drone, robot, various electrical or electronicdevices, various IoT networks, or various devices coupled to thenetwork. The receiver may also include a user and other members such as,e.g., a customer or an employee who belongs to a certain group.

In the first exemplary embodiment of this fourteenth exemplary aspect, aterminal or a server may only label a certain content as a labeledcontent only when a sender and a receiver agree to each other.Therefore, even when a sender labels a content as a labeled content, thesender may receive that content as an unlabeled content when there is noagreement between the sender and the receiver. In addition, even when areceiver wants to receive a sender's content as a labeled content, thereceiver may not receive the content as the labeled content when thesender does not transmit the content as the labeled content. Or when theterminal or the server labels a content as the labeled content afterproactively analyzing a sender's content, the receiver's terminal maynot regard the content as the labeled content unless there is anagreement with the receiver or receiver's terminal.

A sender and a receiver can arrange various agreements. For example, asender and a receiver may agree that the receiver may receive allcontents transmitted by the sender as the labeled contents. Or a senderand a receiver may agree that the receiver is to receive the contenttransmitted by the sender as the labeled content only when the contentmay include a certain substance, a certain word or phrase, or the like.

When an agreement between a sender and a receiver may require a mutualconsent, a receiver may receive a labeled content transmitted by thesender as an unlabeled content when the receiver does not agree with thelabeling by the sender. However, when the agreement gives a priority tothe sender, the receiver may receive the unlabeled content chosen asunlabeled and transmitted by the sender as the unlabeled content,however, may receive the labeled chosen as labeled and transmitted bythe sender as the labeled content, regardless of the receiver'spreference. However, when the agreement gives a priority to thereceiver, the receiver may receive the unlabeled content transmitted bythe sender as the labeled or unlabeled content based on the receiver'spreference, or may also receive the labeled content transmitted by thesender as the labeled or unlabeled content based on the receiver'spreference. In this case, the receiver [1] may include a certain senderin the list of labeled senders and may receive any content transmittedby the sender as the labeled content, or [2] may receive the sender'scontent as the labeled content only when the content may include acertain substance, word or phrase.

In the second exemplary embodiment of this fourteenth exemplary aspect,a terminal or a server may label a certain content based upon anagreement between a sender and the server. Thus, when there is noagreement with a server, when a sender labels a certain content as alabeled content the receiving server may transmit the content as anunlabeled content to a receiver. Or even when a receiver may attempt toreceive a content transmitted by a certain sender as a labeled content,the receiver may not do so unless the server labels and transmits thecontent as the labeled content to the receiver. Or unless there is aprior agreement with a sender, the terminal or server may not label acontent as a labeled content unless the terminal or server mayproactively analyze a content created by the sender.

A sender may make a variety of agreements with a server. For example, asender may agree with a server so that all contents transmitted by thesender may be received as labeled contents by the server. Or a senderand a server may agree that the server may receive the contenttransmitted by the sender as a labeled content only when the content mayinclude a certain substance, word or a phrase.

In the third exemplary embodiment of this fourteenth exemplary aspect, aterminal or a server may label a content as a labeled content based onan agreement between a sender and the server. Therefore, when a senderlabels a content which the sender is to transmit as a labeled content, aserver may receive and then transmit the content to a receiver as anunlabeled content, unless there exists a prior agreement between asender and a server which transmits the content to the receiver.

Or even when the receiver may attempt to receive a content transmittedby a sender as a labeled content, the receiver may not receive thecontent as the labeled content, unless the server transmits the contentas the labeled content. Or the terminal or server may not proactivelyanalyze a content and select the content as a labeled content unlessthere is a prior agreement with the sender.

A receiver may make various agreements with a server as well. Forexample, a server may agree with a receiver that all contents which aretransmitted by a server to the receiver may be received as the labeledcontents. Or a receiver and a server may agree that a content whichincludes a certain substance, word or phrase may be received as alabeled content.

The fifteenth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations or methods of additional manipulation of various iconbadges or their features. For example, when a user provides a certainuser input to an app icon, a labeled icon badge or an unlabeled iconbadge, a terminal may run certain additional operations or may provideadditional functions to a user.

In the first exemplary embodiment of this fifteenth exemplary aspect,when a user provides a certain user input to an app icon, a terminal maydisplay an unread content on a display unit. That is, when a user maypress, contact or otherwise manipulate an app icon of a certain app, aterminal may display the unread contents received by the app (i.e., anunread content received by multiple groups set up by the app) in variousarrangements or methods. In this case, the terminal may display theunread content in a lock screen, an unlock screen, a group window or acontent window displayed on a display unit.

In various examples of such configurations of the above paragraph, aterminal [1] may display all unread contents received by the app on alock (or unlock) screen or on a group (or content) window, [2] maydisplay certain unread contents selected based on a reception time, asubstance of the content, a sender or a group to which the senderbelongs on such screens or windows, instead of displaying the unreadcontents, or [3] not entire portions but only portions (i.e., the firstsentences, summaries or keywords) of all or some unread contents. Or aterminal may display a name of a sender of the content, his nickname,his ID or his picture, instead of displaying entire or some portions ofthe unread contents. When a terminal may not display all unread contentsin one screen (or window) because a number of such unread contents isbig, the terminal may allow a user to scroll the lock (or unlock) screenor the group (or content) window, thereby allowing the user to confirmall unread contents.

When a user provides another user input which may be identical to ordifferent from the one in the above paragraph thereafter, the terminal[1] may stop displaying the unread contents described in the aboveparagraph and may display the prior screen, [2] may display entireportions of the unread contents selected by the user, or [3] may open acontent window such that the receiver may respond to the labeledcontent.

In the second exemplary embodiment of this fifteenth exemplary aspect, aterminal may display a labeled content on a display unit when a user mayprovide a certain user input to a labeled icon badge. For example, whena user may press, touches or otherwise manipulate a labeled icon badgeor a numeral representing a number or a substance of the labeled iconbadge which is displayed inside or around an app icon of a certain app,the terminal may display the labeled contents received by the app. Theterminal may also display whether a certain labeled content has beenlabeled directly by a sender or proactively by a terminal. In this case,the terminal may display the labeled contents in an arrangement ormethods which are identical to or similar to those explained in theabove two paragraphs and, therefore, further explanations are omittedherein.

In the third exemplary embodiment of this fifteenth exemplary aspect, asa user provides a certain user input to an unlabeled icon badge, aterminal may display an unlabeled content on a display unit. Forexample, when a user presses, contacts or otherwise manipulates anunlabeled icon badge displayed around or inside an app icon of a certainapp, the terminal may display an unlabeled content received by the app.In this case, the terminal may display whether the labeled content hasbeen labeled directly by a sender or proactively labeled by theterminal. The terminal may display the unlabeled contents in anarrangement or methods which are identical to or similar to thoseexplained in the above paragraph and, therefore, further explanationsare omitted herein.

In the fourth exemplary embodiment of this fifteenth exemplary aspect, aterminal may apply such additional functions not only to certain apps asexplained in the above two paragraphs but also to a certain group ofmultiple apps set up by the app. Therefore, when a user presses, touchesor otherwise manipulates a certain group of multiple groups set up bythe app, the terminal may display unread contents, labeled contents orunlabeled contents in arrangements or methods which are similar oridentical to those of the fifteenth exemplary aspect of this disclosure.

The sixteenth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousadditional configurations or arrangements of such icon badges.

In the first exemplary embodiment of this sixteenth exemplary aspect, aterminal may not only create an unread icon badge, an unlabeled iconbadge or a labeled icon badge for each of multiple apps implemented to aterminal, but also create an unread icon badge, a labeled icon badge oran unlabeled icon badge for each of multiple groups established by theapps. That is, as explained in various exemplary aspects of thisdisclosure, the terminal may not only display such (unread, labeled orunlabeled) icon badges or various numerals related to such badges aroundor inside an app icon of the app, but also display such icon badges ornumerals inside or around a group icon of multiple groups displayed in acertain group window.

In other words, various badges or numerals exemplified in relation to anapp icon of a certain app may be applied to each of multiple group iconsdisplayed in a group window of the app. Accordingly, in the case of aSNS app, a terminal may inform a number or substance of the contentsreceived by the app by displaying an app icon, an unread icon badge orlabeled (or unlabeled) icon badge of the app. Similarly, the terminalmay inform a number of substances of various contents by displaying anapp icon, unread icon badge or labeled (or unlabeled) icon badge, ornumeral related to the badge in a group window in which multiple groupsestablished by the app are displayed.

In the second exemplary embodiment of this sixteenth exemplary aspect, aterminal may create multiple labeled icons based on a process ofcreating such labeled contents. For example, upon receiving a labeledcontent which is crated directly by a sender, the terminal may regardsuch a content as a 1^(st) type labeled signal, and may display a 1^(st)type labeled icon badge and a 1^(st) type numeral which represents anumber of such 1^(st) type labeled contents on a display unit. However,when the labeled content is created by a sender's terminal whichproactively analyzes the content and selects as the labeled content, theterminal may regard such a content as a 2^(nd) type labeled signal, andmay display a 2^(nd) type labeled icon badge and a 2^(nd) type numeralwhich represents a number of such 2^(nd) type labeled contents on adisplay unit.

When a terminal may proactively analyze a content which has beenreceived from another member or which is about to be transmitted by auser, it may happen that the content may exactly correspond neither to alabeled content nor to an unlabeled content. For example, the analysisobtained by various information analysis algorithms may lead to aconclusion that the probability of a content to correspond to a labeledcontent is 76%, neither 0% nor 100%. In such circumstances, the terminalmay display the labeled contents differently based on such probabilityor reliability, and may create different labeled icon badges for suchlabeled content with different probability or reliability.

The seventeenth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates toadditional configurations and arrangements of various icon badges. Forexample, when a user provides a user input to an unread icon badge or toa numeral attached to the unread icon badge, a terminal or an app maydisplay only unread contents. Or when a user provides a certain userinput or a single user input to an app icon, a terminal or an app maydisplay only unread contents. Alternatively, when a user provides a userinput to a labeled icon badge or to a numeral attached to the labeledicon badge, a terminal or an app may only display unread labeledcontents. Or when a user provides a different user input or multipleuser inputs, a terminal or an app may only display the labeled contents.

The eighteenth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to additionalconfigurations or additional arrangements of various icon badges. Forexample, when a single content may include multiple information ofdifferent types such as, e.g., a text, an image file or a sound file, aterminal, a server or an app may regard the content as a single contentor, alternatively, as multiple contents. Therefore, a terminal or an appmay count the numbers of various contents or calculate the numerals ofsuch numbers in ways which may be different from those explained above.

Instead of calculating and displaying a number of unread contents or anumber of unread labeled (or unlabeled) contents, a terminal, an app ora server may count and display the number of the data packets whichinclude unread contents or the number of unread labeled (or unlabeled)data packets which include unread labeled (or unlabeled) contents. Whenthe content includes various information of different types such as atext, an image file or a sound file, a terminal, an app or a server mayregard this data packet as a single data packet or as multiple datapackets. Accordingly, a terminal or an app may count the numbers ofvarious data packets or calculate the numerals of such numbers in wayswhich may be different from those explained above.

The nineteenth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousmethods of displaying such icon badges or various numbers.

In the first exemplary embodiment of this nineteenth exemplary aspect, aterminal or an app may display various icon badges or various numbers(or numerals) attached to such icon badges in various temporal modes(i.e., in the perspective of time). For example, a terminal or an appmay display [1] a single badge and a single number (or numeral), [2]multiple badges, or [3] multiple numbers (or numerals), at the same time(or simultaneously). In other words, a terminal or an app may renderoperations of displaying multiple badges (or multiple numbers ornumerals) may overlap each other in the clock cycles of a CPU of aterminal. Or a terminal or an app may render operations of displayingmultiple badges (or multiple numbers or numerals) have at least oneoverlapping clock cycle. Alternatively, a terminal or an app may renderoperations of displaying multiple badges (or multiple numbers ornumerals) may not overlap each other in the clock cycles of a CPU of aterminal. Or a terminal or an app may render operations of displayingmultiple badges (or multiple numbers or numerals) have at least onetemporal gap between their clock cycles. When the temporal gap us tooshort, a user may regard such operations to be run at the same time ormay feel such operations to be sequential. Thus, unless otherwisespecified, a terminal or an app may regard the operations of displayingmultiple badges (numbers or numerals) as being at the same time (orsimultaneously) when a user may regard it as being at the same time(e.g., a temporal gap may be less than 1/16 second), although suchoperations may be sequential in terms of the clock cycles. In additionand in terms of spatial modes, a terminal or an app may display suchbadges or numbers (or numerals) inside or around an app icon, or maydisplay such badges or numbers (or numerals) to overlap (or not overlap)an edge of the app icon.

In the second exemplary embodiment of this nineteenth exemplary aspect,a terminal or app may display various icon badges or various numbers (ornumerals) attached to such badges in various spatial modes (i.e., in theperspective of an area or a space). For example, a terminal or an appmay display a single or multiple badges, numbers or numerals inside oraround an app icon displayed on a display unit. A terminal or an app maydisplay such badges or numbers to overlap an edge of an app icon. Inthis case and as explained above, an app or a terminal may [1] displaythe app icon and such badges (or numbers) simultaneously orsequentially, [2] display the badges and the numbers simultaneously orsequentially, [3] display multiple badges simultaneously orsequentially, or [4] display multiple numbers simultaneously orsequentially.

The twentieth exemplary aspect of this disclosure relates to variousconfigurations of “app system” which can provide or use various labelsignals, labeled contents or labeled icon badges, and relates to variousmethods of using such an “app system.” To this end, the “app system” ofthis disclosure is collectively defined as the above “app” as well asvarious hardware elements or software elements each of which may bemanaged or manipulated by an app provider for proper operation of theapp. Therefore, various servers, related hardware elements or relatedsoftware elements which the app provider may directly or indirectlymanage or manipulate are deemed to belong to the “app system” withinthis disclosure.

When the “app system” may directly or indirectly manage or manipulate anapp which is implemented (or downloaded) into a terminal of a user, suchan app may be regarded to belong to the “app system.” In addition, whenthe “app system” of the app provider may manage or manipulate at least aportion of a wired or wireless network which provides communicationbetween the user and the “app system,” the portion of the network mayalso be regarded to belong to the “app system.”

The first exemplary embodiment of this twentieth exemplary aspectrelates to a case in which a user may manage or manipulate an app whichis implemented) or downloaded) into a terminal of the user bymanipulating the terminal. Therefore, the user may use various labelsignals, labeled contents or labeled icon badges by various methodsexemplified in various exemplary embodiments or examples of thisdisclosure. For example, the user may manipulate the app or the terminalby directly running various operations, where various app have beenexemplified to run such operations in various embodiments or examples ofthis disclosure. Similarly, the user may also manipulate the app or theterminal by directly running various operations, where various servershave been exemplified to run such operations in various embodiments orexamples of this disclosure. Therefore, the “app system” of this casemay be regarded to serve the operation of the app implemented (ordownloaded) to the terminal of the user.

For example, a part of the computer program exemplified in FIG. 12C maybe implemented into a server, while the rest of the computer program maybe implemented into a terminal of a user. When applying suchconfigurations or methods to the first exemplary embodiment of thistwentieth aspect, a user's terminal may include the entire computerprogram. Thus, whenever receiving a content or data packet which isdirectly transmitted by the sender or which is transmitted through aserver, the computer program may count the number of the unread contentsor the number of the unread labeled contents, and then display suchnumbers on the display unit.

In the third embodiment of the thirteenth exemplary aspect, a server mayreceive the list of labeled receivers from a content sender or from areceiver, or may proactively select a labeled receiver. When applyingthe above configurations or methods to the first embodiment of thisfirst embodiment of the twentieth exemplary aspect, a user's terminalmay receive the list of the labeled receivers from a sender, or maystore and use the list of the labeled receivers. Alternatively, theterminal may proactively select the labeled receiver using its own appor O/S.

When a user as well as the “app system” can manage or manipulate the appimplemented (or downloaded) on to the terminal of the user, the “appsystem” may use various label signals, labeled contents or labeled iconbadges by manipulating the app in various methods as exemplified in theabove exemplary aspects, embodiments or examples.

The second exemplary embodiment of this twentieth exemplary aspectrelates to a case where an app provider may directly manage ormanipulate an app using an “app system.” It is appreciated that, even inthis embodiment, a user may use the app by providing various user inputsto an app icon which serves as a user interface of the app implemented(or downloaded) which is into a terminal of the user. In addition, theuser may change a setting of the app within the scope allowed by the“app system,” however, the “app system” may not allow the user to manageor manipulate the app beyond that scope. Accordingly, the app providermay run various operations which have been exemplified to be run by theuser, the user's terminal or the server in the above various embodimentsor examples of this disclosure.

For example and as exemplified in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the terminal of thefirst embodiment of the first exemplary aspect of this disclosure havebeen exemplified to display the unread icon badge and the labeled iconbadge on certain positions of the display unit, when applying suchconfigurations or methods to the second embodiment of this twentiethexemplary aspect, the “app system” may deliver various commands to theuser's terminal or to the app implemented to the terminal, whereexamples of such commands may include a command for displaying an appicon and a labeled icon badge, a detailed command for specifying a sizeor a location each of the app icon and the labeled icon badge.

In another example, a terminal of the first embodiment of the sixthexemplary aspect of this disclosure may receive a content directly froma sender or through a server, and may proactively select at least onelabeled receiver by analyzing the content with information analysisalgorithms. When applying such configurations or methods to the secondembodiment of this twentieth exemplary aspect, the “app system” mayproactively check whether the content may include a label requestinformation before transmitting the content receiver from a sender to areceiver. When the server conforms the label request information fromthe content, the server may create a label signal which may label thecontent as the labeled content, and then may transmit the labeledcontent as well as the label signal to the terminal of the user.Alternatively, the server may incorporate the labeled content and thelabel signal to a labeled data packet, and may transmit the labeled datapacket to the user's terminal.

In another example and as explained in the third embodiment of theseventh exemplary aspect of this disclosure, the terminal may displaythe unread contents which include both of the unlabeled contents as wellas the labeled contents, while simplifying the unlabeled contents buthighlighting the labeled contents (or displaying the labeled contents asis). In applying such configurations or methods to the second embodimentof the twentieth exemplary aspect, the terminal of the user transmitsthe user input to the server. Based thereon, the server may create acommand for simplifying (or omitting) the unlabeled contents, andanother command for highlighting the labeled contents (or as is), andmay then transmit such commands back to the terminal of the user. Basedon such commands, the terminal may display the labeled contents, whilesimplifying or omitting the unlabeled contents.

The third exemplary embodiment of this twentieth exemplary aspectrelates to a case where an app provider installs its hardware elementsor software elements in different locations. In this context, this thirdexemplary embodiment may be identical to the second exemplaryembodiment, except that an “app system” may use various serversdistributed in different locations.

Thus, when applying the first exemplary embodiment of the firstexemplary aspect of this disclosure to the third exemplary embodiment ofthis twentieth exemplary aspect, the “app system” may drive a 1^(st)server in a 1^(st) location in order to deliver a command for displayingthe labeled icon badge on the display unit to the user's terminal or theapp implemented to the terminal. But the “app system” may drive a 2^(nd)server in a 2^(nd) location to drive to count the number of the labeledcontents, and may deliver a command for displaying the number around orinside the labeled icon badge to the user's terminal or the appimplemented to the terminal.

In another example, when applying the first exemplary embodiment of thesixth exemplary aspect of this disclosure to the third exemplaryembodiment of this twentieth exemplary aspect, the “app system” maystore various information analysis algorithms in a 3^(rd) server in a3^(rd) location, and may execute such algorithms using a 4^(th) serverin a 4^(th) location in order to proactively analyze the content. Inaddition, the “app system” may connect the 3^(rd) server to the 4^(th)server via a 5^(th) server, and may transmit the analysis results to theterminal of the user.

In this third exemplary embodiment of the twentieth exemplary aspect,the app provider may manage or manipulate the “app system” in variousmethods. Therefore and for example, the app provider may designate acertain server to manage or manipulate other servers, hardware elementsor software elements. Or the “app system” may designate two or moreservers to manage or manipulate other servers, hardware elements orsoftware elements. That is, when the “app system” includes multipleservers, it is generally a matter of selection of a manager of the “appsystem” in determining which server is to manage or manipulate theentire “app system.”

7. Interchangeability

Various data processing terminals capable of incorporating the abovelabel signals, labeled contents, labeled data packets or labeled iconbadges, methods of constructing or using such terminals, and methods ofusing such terminals have been described above, particularly withreference to various exemplary aspects, their embodiments, examples, andobjectives, along with details thereof. Such description is intendedonly for better understanding various configurational or operationalfeatures or characteristics of such terminals and methods. Accordingly,it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that variousmodifications and variations of such terminals may be made from theabove disclosure.

While exemplary aspects, embodiments, examples, and objectives ofvarious data processing terminals capable of incorporating various labelsignals, labeled contents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badgeshave been disclosed hereinabove, it is appreciated that othermodifications or variations are still possible. Therefore, suchmodifications or variations are not to be regarded as a departure fromthe spirit and scope of such exemplary aspects, embodiments, examples,and objectives of this disclosure, and all of such modifications orvariations which would be obvious to one skilled in the art are regardedto be included within this disclosure as well as within the scope of thefollowing claims.

Unless otherwise specified, such features of a certain aspect,embodiment, example or objective exemplified in this disclosure mayapply interchangeably to corresponding features of other aspects,embodiments, examples or objectives throughout this disclosure. Ofcourse, such interchangeability may be limited when such application,incorporation, replacement, or combination may contradict each other.

Various data processing terminals capable of using various labelsignals, labeled contents, labeled data packets or labeled icon badges,and various methods of using various hardware or software elements ofsuch terminals and using the foregoing terminals may also run similaroperations and perform similar functions when such terminals areincorporated different electrical or digital parts. As discussed above,however, such terminals may also include any program, software, sourcecode, binary code or other instructions as long as such terminals mayuse the above label signals, labeled contents, labeled data packets orlabeled icon badges.

It is to be understood that, while various aspects, embodiments, andexamples of this disclosure have been described in conjunction withdetailed description provided above, the above disclosure is intended toillustrate and not to limit the scope of the data processing terminals,which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects,embodiments, examples, advantages, and modifications are within thescope of the following claims as well.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of displaying a number of unreadcontents on a display unit of a data processing terminal of a receiverby manipulating an app implemented into said app, wherein said unreadcontents are those which said app has received after said receiverstopped running said app most recently and which have not been read bysaid receiver, said method comprising the steps of: a receiving step inwhich said app receives said unread contents transmitted by at least onesender; a first obtaining step in which said app obtains a first numberwhich represents a number of said unread contents; a confirming step inwhich said app confirms whether said unread content is an unread labeledcontent which is accompanied by a label signal; a second obtaining stepin which said app obtains a second number which represents a number ofsaid unread labeled contents, wherein said first number is not less thansaid second number; and a displaying step in which said appsimultaneously displays an app icon of said app, a first numeralrepresenting said first number, a second numeral representing saidsecond number on a screen displayed on said display unit, wherein saidscreen includes at least one of an off screen, a lock screen, and anunlock screen of said terminal, and wherein said app icon is a userinterface of said app.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said firstobtaining step includes one of the steps of: a number 1 counting step inwhich said app increases said first number by “1” when said app receivessaid unread content; and a number 1 receiving step in which said appreceives said first number from a server with which said terminalcommunicates.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second obtainingstep includes one of the steps of: a number 2 counting step in whichsaid app increases said second number by “1” when said app receives saidunread labeled content; and a number 2 receiving step in which said appreceives said second number from a server with which said terminalcommunicates.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said confirming stepincludes one of the steps of: a number 1 confirming step in which saidapp receives said label signal from said sender; and a number 2confirming step in which said app receives said label signal from aserver capable of communicating with said terminal.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said displaying step includes the step of: a number 1displaying step in which said app displays said first numeral and secondnumeral one of in an interior, in an exterior, and on an edge of saidapp icon.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said number 1 displayingstep includes the step of: a number 2 displaying step in which said appdisplays said first and second numerals together in one of an upperportion, a lower portion, a left portion, a right portion, and a centerof said app icon.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying stepincludes the step of: a number 3 displaying step in which said appdisplays said first numeral in a certain shape, size, color, font,background, position, and an orientation at least one of which isdifferent from that of said second numeral.
 8. A method of displayingnumbers of unread contents on a display unit of a data processingterminal of a receiver, wherein a first app and a second app areimplemented into said terminal, wherein said unread contents arecontents which said first and second apps have received from a senderafter said receiver stopped running said apps most recently and whichhave not been read by said receiver, said method comprising the stepsof: a receiving step in which said first and second apps receive saidunread contents transmitted by at least one of said sender; a firstobtaining step in which said first and second apps respectively obtain afirst-app-first number and a second-app first number, wherein saidfirst-app-first number and second-app-first number respectivelyrepresent numbers of said unread contents received by said first andsecond apps; a confirming step in which said first and second appsconfirm whether said unread content is an unread labeled content whensaid unread content is accompanied by label signal; a second obtainingstep in which said first and second apps respectively obtain afirst-app-second number as well as a second-app-second number, whereinsaid first-app-second number and second-app-second number respectivelyrepresent numbers of said unread labeled contents received by said firstand second apps, and wherein said first-app-first number and saidsecond-app-first number are respectively not less than saidfirst-app-second number and said second-app-second number; and adisplaying step in which said first and second apps display their appicons, a first-app-first numeral which represents said first-app-firstnumber, a second-app-first numeral which represents saidsecond-app-first number, a first-app-second numeral which representssaid first-app-second number, and a second-app-second numeral whichrepresents said second-app-second number on at least one of an offscreen, a lock screen, and an unlock screen which is provided on saiddisplay unit of said terminal, wherein said first and second app iconsare respectively user interfaces of said first and second apps.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein said first obtaining step includes one of thesteps of: a number 1 counting step in which said first app increasessaid first-app-first number by “1” when said first app receives saidunread content; and a number 1 receiving step in which said first appreceives said first-app-first number from a server capable ofcommunicating with said terminal.
 10. The method of claim 8, whereinsaid second obtaining step includes one of the steps of: a number 2counting step in which said first app increases said first-app-secondnumber by “1” when said first app receives said unread labeled content;and a number 2 receiving step in which said first app receives saidfirst-app-second number from a server capable of communicating with saidterminal.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said confirming stepincludes one of the steps of: a number 1 label signal receiving step inwhich said first app receives said label signal from said sender; and anumber 2 label signal receiving step in which said first app receivessaid label signal from a server capable of communicating with saidterminal.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein said displaying stepincludes the step of: a number 1 displaying step in which said first appdisplays said first-app-first numeral and said first-app-second numeralone of in an interior, in an exterior and on an edge of said first app.13. The method of claim 12, wherein said number 1 displaying stepincludes the step of: a number 2 displaying step in which said first appdisplays said first-app-first numeral and said first-app-second numeralin one of an upper portion, a lower portion, a left portion, a rightportion, and an interior of said first app icon.
 14. The method of claim8, wherein said displaying step includes the step of: a number 3displaying step in which said first app displays said first-app-firstnumeral in a certain shape, size, color, font, position, background, andorientation at least one of which is different from that of saidfirst-app-second numeral, whereby said receiver is capable of readilydistinguishing said first-app-second numeral from said first-app-firstnumeral.
 15. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of: anumber 4 displaying step in which said first app displays its two appicons and said second app displays its two app icons, wherein said firstapp displays one of said first app icons in a first position and anotherof said first app icons in a second position on said display unit, andwherein said second app displays one of said second app icons in saidfirst position and another of said second app icons in said secondposition on said display unit.
 16. The method of claim 15 furthercomprising the step of: a number 5 displaying step in which said firstand second apps attach said first numerals to said app icons displayedin said first position, but attach said second numerals to said appicons displayed in said second position, wherein said first and secondpositions are different from each other.
 17. The method of claim 15,wherein said first position is one of an upper portion, a lower portion,a left portion, a right portion, and an interior of said display unitand wherein said second position is another of said upper portion, lowerportion, left portion, right portion, and interior.
 18. The method ofclaim 15 further comprising the step of: a number 6 displaying step inwhich said first and second apps manipulate at least one of a shape, asize, a color, a font, a position, a background, and an orientation ofone of said first and second app icons displayed in said first positionto be different from that of the other of said first and second appicons displayed in said second position.
 19. The method of claim 15further comprising the step of: a number 7 displaying step in which saidfirst and second apps manipulate at least one of a shape, a size, acolor, a font, a position, a background, and an orientation of one ofsaid first and second numerals displayed in said first position to bedifferent from that of the other of said first and second numeralsdisplayed in said second position.
 20. A method of displaying a numberof unread contents on a display unit of a data processing terminal of areceiver by manipulating an app implemented into said terminal, whereinsaid unread contents are those included in data packets which said apphas received after said receiver stopped running said app most recentlyand which have not been read by said receiver, said method comprisingthe steps of: a receiving step in which said app receives an unread datapacket including said unread content transmitted by at least one sender;a first counting step in which said app increases a first number whensaid app receives one of said unread content and unread data packet,where said first number represents a number of said unread contents; aconfirming step in which said app confirms whether said unread datapacket includes a label signal and in which said app regards said unreadcontent included in said unread data packet as an unread labeled contentwhen said data packet includes said label signal; a second counting stepin which said app increases a second number which represents a number ofsaid unread labeled contents when said data packet includes one of saidlabel signal and said unread labeled content, wherein said first numberis not less than said second number; and a displaying step in which saidapp simultaneously displays an app icon of said app, a first numeralrepresenting said first number, a second numeral representing saidsecond number on a screen displayed on said display unit, wherein saidscreen includes at least one of an off screen, a lock screen, and anunlock screen of said terminal, and wherein said app icon is a userinterface of said app.